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BOLIVAR BROWN 



t 




[See p. 135 

“good mornin’, miss chase,” he said, “we got somethin’ 

TO ’XPLAIN TO YOU ” 




BOLIVAR t 
« BROWN 


By 

BIDE DUDLEY 


With Illustrations hy 
HARRY WOOD 



Harper Brothers Publishers 
New York and London 




Bolivar Brown 

Copyright, 1921, by Hatper & Brothera 
Printed in the United States of America 
H-v • 


OCi -I 1921 


0)CI.A627075 

I'h- I 


ILLUSTRATIONS 


“Good Mornin’, Miss Chase,” He Said. “We 

Got Somethin’ to 'Xplain to You” . . Frontispiece 
Next the Cat Jumped to a Shelf Behind the 
Counter Knocking Over a Glass Jar 
Which Was Smashed Facing p. 8 

The First Steer Rose Clumsily in the Air 

AND Leaped Clear Over the Boys . . “ 12 

BoliVar Came Through Minus the Seat of 

His Pants “ 44 

The Parade “ 68 

“Bolivar Brown, You Let Go My Ankles” “ 98 

“You Villain, You! Drop That Knife or I’ll 

Choke You to Death ” “ 126 

He Summoned All His Courage. “I’m Stuck 

ON You,” He Said “ 184 

“Yer All Members of the Paw Paw Minin’ 

Company,” Said Uncle Ezra .... “ 200 

“Lemme See Yer Right Forearm!” .... “ 232 



4r 








BOLIVAR BROWN 




BOLIVAR BROWN 


1 

O COURSE it could been Bolivar 
Brown, but it prob'ly wusn’t. That 
boy has been ’cused of swipin’ ’nough 
chickens to feed a whole Methodis’ Con- 
ference, but nobody absolutely knowed he 
ever took one, an’ I’m sure he never did. 
Bol Brown ain’t a thief. He’s jest a good- 
natured scamp that ’ll bear watchin’. If 
he don’t get no worse, an’ I don’t think 
he will, he’s out to land in the White House 
some day.” 

Uncle Ezra Fox was speaking. Hezekiah 
Pickwick, keeper of the larger of the two 
general stores in Paw-Paw Comer, had 
been bemoaning the loss of a spring chicken 
which had been in a coop just outside the 


BOLIVAR BROWN 


door. Somebody in the store had sug- 
gested that possibly Bolivar Brown had 
taken it as a foundation for a meal at the 
cave his chums and he had on the river 
bank. Uncle Ezra had taken up Bolivar’s 
defense immediately. He was very fond of 
the boy. 

^‘You see,” the old man went on, ^‘Bol 
Brown is a real boy. Nothin’ sissy about 
him. He’s got a big heart an’ a great sense 
o’ humor. He’s the most likable kid I 
ever knew an’, more than that, he’s as 
gritty as they make ’em. Carefree? Yes, 
but that’s a good trait in a healthy boy. 
It shows he’s gettin’ all there is in life out.” 

Uncle Ezra shifted his chewing tobacco 
from one cheek to the other and struck 
another blow for Bolivar. ”You all recol- 
lect Sam Clemens’s story about Huck Finn, 
I reckon,” he said. ”Well, lemme tell you 
somethin’! Down near Hannibal, where I 
used to live, I knowed the boy that Huck 
was patterned after — ^knowed him well — ^in 
fact, was chtuns with him — an’ I want to 


BOLIVAR BROWN 


say that for the real boy stiiff he never 
cotild hold a candle to Bol Brown. Fact, 
I think Bol conld ’a* give him cards an' 
spades an' beat him out 'long that line. 
No, sir, if every American boy could be 
molded out of the same stuff that Bol 
come from there wouldn't be no doubt about 
the future of this great Republic." 

There was a moment of silence, during 
which Uncle Ezra tapped his foot on the 
floor and htunmed a tune. Suddenly the 
storekeeper remembered something. 

"Say, Ezry," he said, "I just been 
thinkin' — I sold that missin' spring to 
Hank Logan's wife last night jest afore I 
closed up." 

"I told you that boy never hooked it," 
replied Uncle Ezra, triumphantly. "Bet 
on him, fellers — ^bet on him! He's a real 
one. Ain't that him cornin' 'cross the 
street? " 

The storekeeper looked. "That's him,"; 
he said, "an' he's headed in here. His ma 
must want some groc'ries." 

3 


BOLIVAR BROWN 


With that Hezekiah placed his glasses on 
the counter and, coming aroimd in front, 
put wire covers on a box of primes and a 
basket of apples. 

“Don't reckon his ma wants any prunes 
or apples," he said, as a lame excuse for 
what was plainly a precautionary act on 
his part. A moment later the screen door 
opened and Bolivar Brown, followed by two 
medium-sized dogs of no especial breed, 
came in. The screen door was left wide 
open. 

Bolivar was grinning and limping slightly. 
Stepping up to the counter, he said to 
Hezekiah: 

“Got any oblong tea?" 

“How are you, Bolivar?" replied the 
storekeeper. “You mean Oolong. Yep, I 
got some. How much does yer ma want? " 

“I forgot that," said the boy, “but I 
reckon she won't need any more than a 
peck." 

The storekeeper and his visitors broke 
into loud laughs. 


4 


BOLIVAR BROWN 


‘‘Gee whiz, Boll” said Hezekiah. “A 
peck of tea ’u’d last yer family six months. 
You don't mean no peck. Now, how much 
did yer ma say? Try an’ recollect.” 

Boliver, slightly chagrined, scratched at 
the paint on the coimter with a big toe. 
‘‘I dtmno, Mr. Pickwick,” he said. 

“How much money did she give you fer 
it?” 

“Ten cents.” 

“Well,” said the storekeeper, with a 
broad smile, “I reckon you want a eighth 
of a pound.” The tea delivered, Mr. 
Pickwick asked, “Is that all?” 

“I was tryin’ to recollect if she said to 
get a stick of that striped candy you got 
in the jar there,” came from the boy. 

Once more the storekeeper laughed. “I 
hardly b’lieve she said anything about 
candy,” he said, “but she prob’ly fergot it. 
If you’ll shut that screen door so’s the flies 
won’t eat the candy before you kin eat it. 
I’ll loan you a stick.” 

Bolivar shut the door and received the 
5 


BOLIVAR BROWN 


candy. He thanked the storekeeper and, 
speaking to Sport and Jack, his dogs, 
turned to leave. He hesitated upon being 
addressed by Uncle Ezra Fox. 

'‘Say, Bol,'' said Uncle Ezra, "I notice 
yer faverin’ yer left foot. What's wrong?" 

"TattooinM" 

"Tattooin'?" came from the surprised 
old man. 

“Yep. Skeets did it. He read in a book 
how you could be marked so's yer corpse 
'u'd always be identerfied. He stuck me 
with a needle. I'm goin' to tattoo him 
to-morrer." 

Everybody smiled again, and then Mr. 
Pickwick asked, “Bol, how are you an' 
Miss Ann Eliza Chase^gettin' along?" 

“She's madder at me than ever. Sport 
an' Jack chased one of her cats into her 
house yesterday." 

“Wa'n't no damage done, was they?" 
asked Peleg Lee. 

“Turned the kitchen table over; that's 
all." 


6 


BOLIVAR BROWN 


Pshaw!’* came from the storekeeper. 
''That wa’n’t nuthin*. She got mad too 
easy. Dogs will be dogs an’ cats will be 
cats, an’ as long as they are dogs an’ cats 
they will be dogs chasin’ cats.” 

Hezekiah Pickwick smiled a little at this 
outburst of his own logic. He didn’t notice 
just at this time his old gray tomcat slowly 
entering the door. Neither did the others. 
The cat was noticed, however, but it was by 
Sport and Jack. In another instant the 
cat’s presence was brought to the notice of 
all, forcibly. 

Sport and Jack started for the cat with 
wild yelps. The cat saw them coming and 
leaped on the counter. Next he jumped to 
a shelf behind, knocking over a glass jar, 
which was smashed. Then followed a scene 
of wild confusion. The cat leaped from shelf 
to counter, from barrel to box, dislodging 
jars, pots, pans, and other articles of mer- 
chandise. The dogs followed as closely as 
they could imder the circumstances, yelp- 
ing. The group in the store was stampeded. 
7 


2 


BOLIVAR BROWN 


Everybody ran outside but Hezekiah and 
Bolivar. The boy and the storekeeper tried 
to stop the chase. Finally the cat dived 
through the hole in the door and dis- 
appeared around the comer. The dogs 
knocked the door open and followed and 
the trouble was over. 

When the storm had quieted, Bolivar 
moved away. “Hey, where you goin7” 
asked the storekeeper, red in the face. 

“I gotta take this tea home,'' replied 
Bolivar. 

‘'Who's a-goin' to pay for this damage?" 

“It's too bad, Mr. Pickwick, ain't it?" 

“Too bad? Well, I should say it is. 
Who's a-gOin' to pay?" 

“I dunno. I never paid any damages 
when Sport an' Jack chased Miss Ann 
Eliza's cat." 

The storekeeper saw the point and calmed 
down. He made a quick mental calculation. 
“Well," he said, “I reckon I ain't out 
more 'n three dollars." 

Uncle Ezra was grinning broadly. Seeing 
8 



NEXT THE CAT JUMPED TO A SHELF BEHIND THE COUNTER KNOCKING 
OVER A GLASS JAR WHICH WAS SMASHED 





BOLIVAR BROWN 


the storekeeper was to take a sensible view 
of the mix-up, he came back and asked: 
^'Will three dollars cover it, Hez?” 

''Jest about!” 

"Well, it wuz mighty funny. I got a 
dollar an’ a half’s worth of fun out of it. 
I’ll stand half.” 

"No, you won’t,” replied Hezekiah, now 
smiling. " I reckon three dollars won’t bust 
me. But,” he added, turning to Bolivar, 
"don’t you ever bring them good-fer- 
nothin’ dogs in here ag’in.” 

"That’s just what Miss Ann Eliza said,” 
Bolivar replied. 

The words were hardly out of his mouth 
when there came an uproar from the street. 
Uncle Ezra quickly looked out and imme- 
diately returned. 

"Frank Taylor’s steers,” he shouted. 
"They’ve busted out of the railroad stock- 
yards an’ are stampedin’ down the street.” 

Everybody ran to the door. Down the 
street came twenty steers, running wildly 
yet lumberingly. Taylor had intended to 
9 


BOLIVAR BROWN 


ship them that night. Something had mad- 
dened them and they had crashed through 
the fence of the pen. Dogs barking behind 
them and men and women yelling had added 
to their fright. As they came down the 
street they were a whirling avalanche of 
foaming bestial anger. Sheriff Graham was 
across the street. 

'‘Everybody inside!’' he shouted. 

There was a rush for cover and by the 
time the leader of the steers was a block 
away the street was practically clear of hu- 
man beings. Then there came a cry of 
anguish from the window of a home across 
from the Pickwick store. It was a woman’s 
voice. 

“Oh, Timmy! Oh, my God!” it screamed. 
The onlookers soon saw the reason. Hob- 
bling slowly across the street, in the hope of 
getting home before the stampede reached 
him, was a little crippled boy, Tim Walker. 
An ailment of the spine prevented his 
moving rapidly, and bad judgment had put 
him in the path of danger. 

10 


BOLIVAR BROWN 


''Oh, Timmy!” screamed his mother 
again. And then she swooned. 

On came the steers, bellowing in their 
rage, straight toward the crippled boy. 
The realization that he would not be able 
to get out of their way suddenly dawned on 
Tim and he stopped, petrified with fear. 
It seemed that he must be trampled to 
death and people turned away and covered 
their faces with their hands. Suddenly 
something happened that increased the ex- 
citement greatly. A small, lithe, brown- 
skinned boy, barefooted and hatless, sprang 
out into the street in front of Pickwick’s 
store. Three leaps took him to the cripple’s 
side and the next instant Tim was held tight 
in Bolivar Brown’s embrace. 

"Down, Tim!” yelled Bolivar. 

The cripple was stupefied with fear. He 
stood frozen to the spot. With no more ado 
Bolivar placed one bare foot behind the little 
fellow’s ankles and tripped him. Down they 
went in a heap, with Bolivar on top. 
Quickly he wrapped his legs around those 


BOLIVAR BROWN 

of the cripple and locked his arms about 
his neck. 

'‘Quiet, now, Tim!’' he said. 

As one human log the two boys lay in the 
street, directly in the path of the infuriated 
steers. Tears welled into the eyes of Uncle 
Ezra Fox. 

“ God,” he said, with his eyes glued on the 
boys, “now’s yer time to do me a favor. 
Save them boys I ’ ’ 

t The leading steer was not ten feet from 
■ the lads. As he bore down on them the shrill 
voice of Skeets Martin, Bolivar’s chum, 
rang out and broke a breathless silence. 

“Jump ’em, you son-of-a-gun ! ” shouted 
Skeets. 

The first steer, now three feet from the 
huddled mass of humanity, rose clumsily in 
the air and leaped clear over the boys. 
Cattle are much like sheep in some respects. 
Seeing their leader jump, the steers directly 
behind him followed suit, and when the mad 
animals had surged by and the dust had 
settled somewhat a small boy was seen to 


12 


THE FIRST STEER ROSE CLUMSILY IN THE AIR AND LEAPED CLEAR OVER THE BOYS 





I 


BOLIVAR BROWN 

arise from the street with another in his 
arms. 

Bolivar carried Tim to the store and 
placed him in the arms of Uncle Ezra Fox. 

'‘He ain't hurt — just skeered!" said 
Bolivar. 

A hysterical woman rushed up and at- 
tempted to embrace him. 

"Please don't!" he said, as he deftly 
dodged her. "I got to take ma's tea home 
to her or I'll get licked." 

Picking up the package of tea, Bolivar 
disappeared around the store and started 
for home, eager to avoid the excited crowd 
near the scene of the rescue. 

"That's what comes of knowin' cattle," 
said Skeets to Hezekiah. "Bol's uncle 
taught him that out on the farm." 

By the time Bolivar had gone two blocks 
he had become his old self again, and the 
rescue incident had almost faded from his 
mind. As he passed the railroad station he 
noticed that the accommodation train was 


13 


BOLIVAR BROWN 


just in and that people were alighting from 
it. In Paw Paw Comer’s allotment was a 
good-looking man of about thirty-five years 
who appeared to be a stranger in the town. 
Hesitating for a moment, his eye lit on the 
boy and he approached him. 

‘'My boy,” he said, "can you tell me if 
the family of George B. Brewster lives in 
this town?” 

"Yes, sir. He’s a judge,” said Bolivar. 

"I wonder if he’s the man I want to see,” 
mused the stranger. "Did he come from 
Higgins ville and has he a daughter?” 

"Yes, sir. The family moved here from 
Higginsville when the railroad came. His 
daughter’s name is Millie. They live 
straight down this street in the red brick 
house on the comer just beyond the 
Square.” 

"Much obliged!” said the stranger. 
"That’s the Brewster. He moved here 
about the time John Lake did, I think.” 

"Yes, sir, he did. John Lake’s the 
president of the bank. He Uves two blocks 
14 


BOLIVAR BROWN 

beyond the Brewsters in the big white 
house.” 

“Good!” The stranger gave Bolivar a 
nickel and started in the direction of the 
hotel. Stopping, he came back and asked: 
“By the way, is Mr. Brewster's daughter 
a Mrs. Smith, or Black, or something?” 

“Oh no, sir!” replied Bolivar. “She 
ain't married. She's Miss Millie.” 

The stranger's face showed a trace of 
satisfaction. He quickly banished it, how- 
ever, and, handing the boy a second nickel, 
he hurried away. Bolivar gazed after him 
puzzled. 

“Huh!” the boy murmured. “That 
feller's all right, but I wonder what he wants 
with Mr. Brewster!” 


II 


T he stampede set Paw Paw Comer in a 
turmoil of excitement and Bolivar’s 
rescue of crippled Tim Walker would have 
swamped him with praise had people been 
able to comer him long enough to tell him 
their compliments. The boy, however, 
avoided all but a few intimates that night 
and refused to accept anything in the way 
of plaudits. The steers were rounded up 
out in the country, after they had tired, and 
were shipped as per schedule. Their stam- 
pede had caused no damage except to the 
railroad stockyards. 

After the stranger had quizzed him, 
Bolivar broke into a trot, while Sport and 
Jack trotted along behind with their tongues 
lolling out. They had chased the steers to 
the town limits and were tired. Half a 
block from his home Bolivar saw a bone in 

i6 


BOLIVAR BROWN 


the street. Picking it up, he called the dogs 
and tossed it between them. The desired 
result was not long in arriving. 

Sport got the bone first and dropped it 
to growl at Jack. Jack immediately forgot 
his friendship for Sport and both dogs 
bristled. Bolivar came up behind Sport 
and gave him a push. The fight began. 

As the dogs fought they worked their way 
toward the Brown home. Above the din of 
the conflict could be heard Bolivar's voice 
urging them on. Then came another voice 
— ^from the house. 

''Bolivar Brown!" it said. "Stop that! 
Stop it, I say, and come here to me at 
once." 

The voice belonged to Mrs. Brown. The 
boy ended the fight with a couple of kicks 
and went to the back door of the house. 
Mrs. Brown was putting a stick of wood in 
the cookstove. 

"What do you want, ma?” asked Boli- 
var, dropping the tea on the kitchen 
table. 


17 


BOLIVAR BROWN 


^‘Look here, Bolivar Brown!’' replied his 
mother. “What have I told you about 
fighting those dogs?” With that she took 
hold of his left ear. 

“You said those dogs ought not to be 
'lowed to fight,'' he replied, stepping closer 
to ease the strain on his ear. 

“I said nothing of the sort! I told you 
not to fight those dogs, didn't I?'' And 
Mrs. Brown gave the ear a yank for 
emphasis. 

“Yes, ma, I remember now. But I can 
'splain this fight.'' 

“Well, there's your ear. Now explain 
it. And mind you tell the truth or you'll 
regret it.'' 

“Well, ma, supposin'!'' 

* ' Supposin' what ? ' ' 

BoHvar edged toward the door. There 
was a twinkle in his eye. “Supposin' you 
had a bone!'' 

“A what?” 

‘ ' A bone. An' Miss Ann Eliza tried to get 
it away from you! Wouldn't you fight?” 

i8 


BOLIVAR BROWN 


*^What! What’s that? I fight over a 
bone? Why, you disrespectful rascal, you! 
I’ll — ” But Bolivar had fled. 

'‘My, that boy!” groaned Mrs. Brown. 
“I fight with Ann Eliza Chase over a bone! 
I’ll make that young man smart for that. 
I’ll get a switch when he comes home and — ” 

But at that point a neighbor came in and 
told her of Bolivar’s rescue of Tim Walker, 
and Mrs. Brown beamed with pride. 

For the moment let us return to the 
stranger. The look of satisfaction Bolivar 
had noticed had not belied the man’s 
feelings. Once away from the boy his pace 
quickened and he smiled. Reaching the 
hotel, he registered as “James Locke, Kan- 
sas City,” and asked to be assigned to a 
room immediately. Hep Shocker, the clerk, 
showed him to Number 5 on the second 
floor and left him. As the clerk’s footsteps 
died away the stranger took writing paper 
from his grip and sat down at the table to 
pen a note. 

At first he wrote rapidly ; then he reviewed 
19 


BOLIVAR BROWN 


what he had written and tore it up. A 
period of thought followed and once again 
he wrote. This time he carefully blotted the 
note and inclosed it in an envelope. He 
then lay down on the bed and dropped off 
to sleep. Two hotrrs later he awoke. 
Noting by his watch that it was almost 
7 P.M., he hurried to the hotel lobby. 

“Can I get a boy to deliver a note for 
me?'' he asked of the clerk. 

“We haven't got any boys here," replied 
Shocker, “but there’s Bol Brown passing 
the hotel. Maybe he'll do it." 

The clerk went out and hailed Bolivar, 
who was telling several men and boys he 
“hadn't done nothin' but used his knowl- 
edge of cattle" in the rescue. Bolivar re- 
sponded to Shocker's call and the stranger 
recognized him. He asked him if he'd like 
to earn a dime. Bolivar said he would. 

“Here it is," said the stranger, handing 
the boy a dime. “Kindly deliver this note 
to the person whose name it bears. Don’t 
give it to anyone else." 


20 


BOLIVAR BROWN 


Hep Shocker strained both his eyes and 
his ears, but his curiosity remained imsatis- 
fied. Bolivar merely said, ^^Yes, sir,'' and 
started away. At the comer he looked at 
the address. On the envelope was written, 
''For Miss Millie Brewster," and down in 
the left-hand comer was the word, "Per- 
sonal." 

"Golly!" muttered Bolivar. "That fel- 
ler's got me guessin'. However, other 
people's business is — well, other people's 
business." 

Putting the dime in his mouth, he started 
for the Brewster home on a slow lope. Hep 
Shocker returned to the hotel lobby greatly 
puzzled and not a little bit chagrined. 


Ill 


P AW PAW CORNER, MISSOURI, isn’t 
a town you’ll find on the map, the reason 
being that its name has been changed. It was 
Paw Paw Comer when it had only five hun- 
dred inhabitants. With the coming of the 
railroad the population grew to about one 
thousand and civic pride brought about the 
change in name. In gathering material for 
this narrative the writer promised to use the 
old name of the town since, it was pointed 
out, to identify the place might bring em- 
barrassment to certain families still living 
there. 

This town, which bred Bolivar Brown, 
was situated on the Missouri River north of 
St. Joseph. It was the center of a very 
fertile agricultural country where the farm- 
ers knew nothing of hard times and the mer- 


22 


BOLIVAR BROWN 


chants prospered accordingly. Daily the 
tillers of the soil came to Paw Paw Comer 
to trade and daily and nightly the old men 
of the town gathered in the two general 
stores to argue, chew, smoke, and spit. 
As a rendezvous for these, Hezekiah Pick- 
wick's store ranked first. 

Bolivar Brown was twelve years old, 
healthy, brown, and invariably grimy. He 
wore no superfluous clothing except possibly 
on Simdays. Usually his raiment consisted 
of an old straw hat, a gray cotton shirt, and 
a pair of blue jeans, supported by a single 
string extending over his shoulder. 

The day of the stampede was Saturday 
and the town was full of farmers. Having 
dehvered the note to Miss Brewster, Bolivar 
sought the comer of the Square, where a 
street lecturer with a supply of ''never fail- 
ing" tooth medicine was expounding the 
virtues of his wares. There was a good- 
sized crowd around him when Bolivar came 
up, mimching a sandwich he had bought at 
Hick's lunch counter. A few tried to draw 


3 


23 


BOLIVAR BROWN 


the boy into a discussion of the rescue of 
Tim, but he refused to talk about it and 
they soon gave it up to listen to the lec- 
turer’s discourse. 

Among those present was Sheets, Boli- 
var’s chum, known to his parents, Mr. and 
Mrs. Oscar Wilson, only as Charles. The 
boys greeted each other with “hellos” and 
soon Bolivar was deeply interested in the 
lecturer’s talk. About that time the man 
stepped forward on his improvised platform 
and, holding up one hand, said: 

“Friends, I have made a long talk here 
to-day and have claimed so much for Doc- 
tor Black’s marvelous preparation that 
you, perhaps, feel I have exaggerated its 
worth. To demonstrate to you its wonder- 
ful power I shall extract free of charge, 
right here before your astonished eyes, a 
limited number of teeth. The work will be 
absolutely painless, made so by the appli- 
cation to the gums of this great African 
preparation, brought to this country after 
years of study in the jungles, by Doctor 
24 


BOLIVAR BROWN 


Black. If some one with an aching tooth, 
or one that aches now and then, will step 
up here before me Fll guarantee to remove 
it without pain in one minute, one-sixtieth 
of an hour, or sixty seconds.'' 

Nobody made a move to accept and, after 
a brief wait, the invitation was repeated. 
Bolivar nudged Sheets and Sheets nudged 
Bolivar. Each had eligible teeth, but 
neither wanted to face the crowd. The 
boys stood there daring each other to ac- 
cept until the lecturer, taking in the situa- 
tion at a glance, shouted: 

''Here! You two boys! Come up and 
let me help you." 

Before they really knew what had hap- 
pened the boys had been lifted on to the 
platform by men in the crowd. Ten min- 
utes later Bolivar descended with one tooth, 
and Sheets with two, wrapped in paper. 
The preparation had done its work. 

"If it can do what you have just seen," 
said the lecturer, "it can kill toothache. I 
am willing to sell a few packages, but re- 
2 $ 


BOLIVAR BROWN 

member — it is only for advertising pur- 
poses/’ 

As the crowd pushed forward to buy the 
preparation the two boys adjourned to 
another comer and sat down on the side- 
walk to compare results. Much to Bolivar’s 
chagrin, he found Sheets had two teeth 
while he had but one. He hid his jealousy 
as best he could and quickly formulated a 
scheme to become the possessor of all three 
prizes. 

‘‘Say, Sheets,” said Bolivar, “what’ll 
you take for yoiu-’n?” 

“What do you want ’em for?” demanded 
the suspicious Sheets. 

“Why, I want ’em to scare my sister with.” 

“Well, what ’ll you give?” asked Sheets, 
realizing Bolivar had good use for the teeth. 
A diligent search of all pockets brought 
from Bolivar’s clothes two matches, a key, 
two marbles, and a piece of string. 

“Which of ’em ’ll you take?” asked 
Bolivar. 

“No good!” replied Sheets. 

26 


BOLIVAR BROWN 


^'Give you any two.” 

”No good!” 

” Well, all of ’em.” 

”No good!” 

”Well, what ’ll you take, then?” 

”You know that watermelon you said 
was yours to borrer from Johnson’s patch 
when it was big enough?” 

”Yep.” 

”Lemme have that one an’ the teeth are 
your’n.” 

Bolivar hated to give up his claim on 
that melon. He had watched it grow ever 
since Hiram Johnson, owner of the patch, 
had invited the boys angrily to ”try to git 
them melons from imder the nose of my new 
bulldog.” He had insinuated that Bolivar 
and his friends had stolen his apples, which 
was untrue. Now that he had planted 
melons, he longed for a chance to get even 
with them for this fancied wrong. Johnson 
had challenged the boys to try to get 
his melons and they had decided to accept 
his dare in order to discipline him. 

27 


BOLIVAR BROWN 


The other boys knew Bolivar had se- 
lected this particular melon as the objective 
of his portion of the excursion which was 
to come, and they respected his claim. He 
realized, however, that there were other 
melons in the patch while first-class teeth 
were scarce, so he replied: 

“All right! Give ’em here!” And the 
deal was made. 

“Now,” said Sheets, “I gotta go home.” 

Before he had gone ten steps Bolivar 
called him back. '*Say, Sheets,” he said, 
“What about Jimmy Lucas?” 

‘ ‘ Whatcha mean ? ” 

“Hasn’t he got achin’ teeth?” 

“Yep; two of ’em.” 

“Le’s me an’ you get him up on the plat- 
form an’ divide his up. He wouldn’t know 
the value of ’em.” 

“Wish we could,” replied Sheets, “but 
Jimmy’s visitin’ in Hawville. Won’t be 
back for three days.” 

With that he bounded away and Bolivar 
turned his face homeward. At the next 

28 


BOLIVAR BROWN 

comer he came face to face with the 
stranger who had given him the dime for 
delivering the note. The man recognized 
him at once. 

''We meet again/* said the man, pleas- 
antly. "I presume you handed my note to 
Miss Brewster.** 

"Yes, sir,** replied the boy. 

"Which house did you say is the Brewster 
home?** 

Bolivar pointed it out and again they 
parted, Bolivar going home and to bed, the 
stranger walking in the direction of the 
Brewster residence. 

It was now about eight o*clock. Millie 
Brewster, in her room, stole another look at 
the note. 

Dear Millie [it read], — ^At last I have found you. 
For years I have dreamed of seeing you again. I arrived 
in Paw Paw Comer this afternoon. If you will meet me 
in the Square, near the foimtain, at eight-thirty o’clock, 
I’ll explain everything. For the present it is best we meet 
this way. But come, dear — ^just this once, anyway. 

Jim. 

As she read it her head came down and 
29 


BOLIVAR BROWN 


^she wept. Years she had wondered and 
waited, and now — now it seemed her vigil 
was to be rewarded. Years before he had 
disappeared just after he had come to Hig- 
ginsville and given her a diamond ring. 
The ring had been cast off her finger but 
not out of her heart. 

Suddenly she straightened up, deter- 
mined. She would meet him and hear his 
reason. 

'‘Oh, mother,” she called, “I think Vll 
take a stroll around the Square before going 
to bed. The air is lovely to-night.” 

“Don’t be gone long, daughter,” replied 
Mrs. Brewster, who was reading in her 
bedroom, 
i won t. 

Millie Brewster, twenty-eight years old, 
was considered one of the sweetest girls in 
the town. Her quiet manner, her even tem- 
per, and her kindliness toward all won her 
admiration everywhere, and yet it might 
have been said she had no close friends. 
She seldom participated actively in social 
30 


BOLIVAR BROWN 


affairs and, while she numbered many young 
men among her acquaintances, she had 
never been known to have a love affair. 
As Uncle Ezra Fox once put it, she was *'the 
sweetest bashful girl in the country.'' 

As she left the house Millie's heart flut- 
tered. Several times she stopped and al- 
most turned back; then steeled herself and 
went on. She wondered if it could really 
be Jim — the Jim she knew, the Jim she once 
loved. Doubt came into her mind and she 
feared it was a trick. Yet who could be 
behind such a hoax? So far as she knew, 
none in Paw Paw Comer knew of Jim but 
her parents. Even in Higginsville, nine 
years before, their engagement had been 
kept a secret, with the idea of annotmcing 
it at a big dancing party. Then he had 
disappeared! 

As these thoughts and many others 
flashed through her mind she came to a 
post surmounted by a gasoline lamp. There 
she hesitated, while the rays from the lamp 
reveled in the gold of her hair. She faltered 
31 


BOLIVAR BROWN 


but a moment and then there stepped out 
of the darkness a good-looking, clean-cut 
man who smiled and held out his hand. 

''Millie!” he said in a low tone. 

"Jim!” 

She took his hand and was drawn out of 
the glare of the light — ^into his arms. Once 
he kissed her and then she drew away. 

"Jim,” she said. "Oh, Jim, it's wonder- 
ful to see you, but why, Jim — ^why did you 
leave?” 

"I — I can't tell you just now, Millie, 
not for a little while.” 

"But you must. Things can't be the 
same, Jim, until you do. Please — I want 
them to be just the same — ^where have you 
been?” 

The man released her hand and was 
quiet. Finally he looked squarely into her 
hopeful eyes and said: "Millie, it is better 
you know. After you learn the truth, there 
may be a way — some way — ^but unless you 
do know the truth there can be none.” 

Again he was silent, as though rallying 
32 


BOLIVAR BROWN 

his forces for a supreme effort. The girl 
waited. 

she suddenly asked, **is it pos- 
sible you are — are married?’' 

^‘No!” 

^‘Then tell me.” 

” Millie,” he said, slowly, ”I have been in 
the state penitentiary.” 

The girl’s gaze continued fixed on his 
eyes for a moment; then she faltered and 
would have fallen had he not caught her. 
Nearby was a bench and upon that he 
placed her. Using his hat as a fan, the man 
soon brought her back to a realization of her 
surroundings. 

”I’m sorry, dear,” he said. ^‘But some 
day perhaps you’ll forgive me.” 

She arose from the seat and pulled herself 
together. Calmly now she looked at him. 
Then she extended her hand. He took it 
and kissed it. 

'' Good night and good-by, Jim!” she said. 

Before he could reply she moved swiftly 
away and was soon lost in the darkness. 

33 


IV 


T he Brown family consisted of Dr. 

Joseph Brown, his wife, Mary, their 
only daughter, a girl of seventeen, and 
three boys, Bolivar, Christopher, and Jerry, 
the baby. Doctor Brown was a physician 
of the old school with a large practice. He 
was a very religious man and a regular 
attendant at the Methodist chiu*ch, in 
which he held the position of deacon. Mrs. 
Brown was thoroughly in accord with her 
husband in his religious views and together 
they were endeavoring to bring up their 
children as churchgoers. They were suc- 
ceeding very well with Christopher, or Kit, 
as he was called, and with Mary, but with 
Bolivar they were convinced they were 
making poor progress at best. 

Every Sunday, promptly at eleven 
o’clock, Doctor Brown, Mrs. Brown, Mary, 
34 


BOLIVAR BROWN 


and Kit filed into the Brown pew. Bolivar 
was with them once in a while. That he 
was not a frequent attendant at church 
was not because of the lack of parental 
zeal. He had a habit of turning up missing 
when church time came, and, although his 
mother invariably declared he'd go next 
week, he frequently succeeded in eluding 
her. 

^ Kut, although two years younger than 
BoHvar, was so nearly his size that the two 
boys looked as though they might be twins. 
Still, Bolivar was plumper than his brother 
and possessed of much more spirit. 

When Bolivar reached home, after parting 
with the stranger, he half expected to have 
his ears boxed. Mrs. Brown, however, had 
forgotten the dog-fight incident and he 
escaped punishment. Next day being Sun- 
day, Bolivar made his escape before church 
time and started for the river to swim. On 
reaching the rock where the boys usually 
undressed, he found four of his friends, in- 
cluding Skeets, carrying on a heated dis- 
35 


BOLIVAR BROWN 

cussion. Catching sight of Bolivar, Sheets 
shouted: 

"‘Here’s Bol Brown. We’ll leave it to 
him, hey, fellers?” 

The others assented and Sheets put a 
question to Bolivar. 

“Say, Bol,” he began, “ain’t it so that 
a wild, er half -wild animal is afraid to touch 
you if you looh him square in the eyes? 
Me and Jimmy says it is. Bill and Scraw- 
ney says it ain’t.” 

Bolivar sat down and, piching up a stich, 
began to whittle, the other boys waiting 
anxiously for his reply. 

“Well, fellers,” he said, after a brief 
pause, “I ain’t sure, but I thinh I side with 
Sheets and Jimmy. I thinh they prob’ly 
won’t touch you, but I ain’t certain.” 

“You see?” said Sheets, triumphantly. 

“But,” came from Scrawney, “Bol ain’t 
sure about it, so whatcha goin’ to do ’bout 
it?” 

“Yes,” chimed in Bill, “whatcha goin’ 
to do ’bout it?” 


36 


BOLIVAR BROWN 


''Fellers/' said Bolivar, "they's only one 
thing to do." 

"What's that?" asked Scrawney. 

"Try it." 

"How you goin' to try it," queried Scraw- 
ney, "when they ain't any real animals 
'round here 'cept in circuses, and they're in 
cages? I don't see any good in that idee." 
And Scrawney showed disappointment. 

Sheets knew that when Bolivar sug- 
gested trying it he had a scheme in 
mind, so he asked, "How can we try it, 
Bol?" 

"Well," said Bolivar, "you know that 
big watermelon yer goin' to borrer?" 

"Yep." 

"And you know Johnson's new bulldog? " 

"Yep." 

"Well, there you are. Try it on him. 
He can see yer eyes in the dark." 

"But the melon ain't ripe yet," objected 
Sheets. 

"It's big ’nough." 

"But, you see — " 


37 


BOLIVAR BROWN 


^^Ah, he’s afraid,” sneered Scrawney, 
poking Skeets in the ribs. 

Who’s afraid — ^me?” demanded Skeets. 
^^Not me! I’ll try it to-night if you fellers 
will go ’long and see it did.” 

The idea struck the boys right and 
they agreed to go. They were eager for 
the adventure. 

''You’ll be captain, Skeets,” said Bolivar. 

"Yep.” 

"Then you’ll go through the patch first, 
eh?” 

"Sure! I’m goin’ to settle this argyment 
for good.” 

"All right!” 

The matter was settled for the time being. 
After a swim the boys dressed and started 
homeward. At Bolivar’s suggestion Skeets, 
as captain, instructed all to be near the 
fountain in the Square at eight o’clock that 
night. 

Bolivar reached home about one o’clock 
and fotmd the family just sitting down to 
38 


BOLIVAR BROWN 


dinner. As he took his place at the table 
Mrs. Brown looked at him sternly, but it 
was his father who first spoke. 

'' Bolivar,’' said Doctor Brown, ‘‘where 
were you at church time?” 

“My goodness!” replied Bolivar, feigning 
siuprise. “I didn’t go, did I?” 

“No foolishness! Where were you?” 

Bolivar spent a moment thinking. “I 
didn’t have a nickel to put in the plate,” 
he finally replied, “so I thought I’d better 
not make the fam’ly ’pear stingy.” 

“No more of that!” said Doctor Brown. 
“You ran off again. Next Sunday you’ll 
go to church or take the consequences. 
See that you are here when we start out.” 

“Yes, my son,” said Mrs. Brown. “See 
that you are with us. I’ll give you a nickel 
for the plate. If you don’t go tochmch 
next Sunday you’ll be very sorry.” 

“All right, ma!” came from the boy as 
he squirmed in his seat. 

The storm had passed — no more was 
said about the church. 

4 39 


BOLIVAR BROWN 

Bolivar took another swim when dinner 
was over and idled away the remainder of 
the afternoon. After a light supper Bolivar 
started for the fountain, arriving at the 
hour agreed on. The other boys who were 
to participate in the melon expedition were 
waiting for him. It was not dark enough 
to begin operations, so all sat down on the 
sidewalk to discuss the plans for the 
^‘experiment.’' 

Johnson’s melon patch was siurounded 
by a high board fence, on the top of which 
was a strand of barbed wire. The patch, a 
small one, was located just outside the town 
limits. It was known that Johnson tmned 
Bluch, the bulldog, loose in the patch each 
night. Sheets opened the discussion. 

‘ ‘ Shall we get a ladder ? ” he asked. ‘ ‘ The 
fence is pretty high.” 

‘ ‘ Ladder, ’ ’ sneered Bolivar. ‘ ‘ It wouldn’t 
be any good. ’Sides, we’d have to get two, 
or how would we get out?” 

“That’s so,” acknowledged Sheets. 
“What had we better do?” 


40 


BOLIVAR BROWN 

*'1 know what I’m goin’ to do,” came 
from Bolivar. “I’m goin’ through the 
fence.” 

“How?” asked Scrawney. 

“Coin’ to rip off a board?” asked Skeets. 

“Done did it. Did it two days ago.” 

“Good boy, Bol!” said Scrawney, as he 
gave Bolivar a slap on the back. 

“How come you did it?” asked Jimmy. 
“You didn’t know we wus goin’ to try this 
’xperiment two days ago.” 

“No,” drawled Bolivar, “but I knew I’d 
need a melon some day.” 

It was arranged that the line of march 
into the patch should be made up with 
Skeets leading, Bolivar second, Scrawney 
third, and Bill fourth. Jimmy was to stay 
outside as the watcher. The boys were sure 
Bluch would be in the patch and they were 
just a little nervous, although each tried 
to conceal the fact. 

At nine o’clock Bolivar said it was dark 
enough and the boys started for the patch. 
A walk of five minutes brought them to the 
41 


BOLIVAR BROWN 


scene of operations, and Bolivar found the 
loose board and pulled it off. Sheets, after 
telling the others to follow, dropped through 
the hole. Bolivar went in right behind him 
and Scrawney and Bill were quick to join 
them. Bill, once inside, remained near the 
opening in the fence while Sheets, Bolivar, 
and Scrawney picked their way among the 
melons. Soon Sheets stopped. 

'‘Here it is, fellers!’' he whispered, taking 
his knife from his pocket to cut the stem. 

"Hurry up, er the dog ’ll be here,” said 
Scrawney. 

"Thought you wanted the dog to come,” 
said Bolivar. "Are you backin’ out?” 

"No-o, but I didn’t think it would be 
quite so scarey. "It’s turrible dark and — 
Oh, what’s that?” 

All three crouched and listened. 

"Geerusalem!” whispered Bolivar. 
"That’s Bluch. He’s cornin’. Sheets. Get 
ready to look him in the eye.” 

It was true. Bluch was coming and com- 
ing fast. By this time Scrawney had de- 

42 


BOLIVAR BROWN 


cided he cared little about science, anyway, 
and was making for the hole in the fence. 
Sheets faltered next. 

' * Bol — come on ! Le's get out ! ” he whis- 
pered, and with that he started for the 
fence on the run. 

Bolivar hated to give in to fear and yet 
it was not he who was to subdue Bluch 
with his eyes. That being the case, he de- 
cided to let science go hang and he, also, 
started at top speed for the fence. The dog 
was gaining on him with every jump. 
Bolivar knew that when he dropped through 
the hole in the fence he'd be safe, as Bluch 
had not yet been known to exceed his au- 
thority by using force outside the patch. 

On sped Bolivar and on came Bluch. 
It was a close finish, but the boy won. He 
reached the fence two feet ahead of the dog 
and sprang through the opening. Right 
there, however, something happened. A 
sliver caUght his sleeve and delayed him, 
and before he could free himself Bluch 
made a spring and the boy came through 
43 


BOLIVAR BROWN 


minus the seat of his pants. He didn't find 
out about his loss until later. 

Bolivar, having recovered his breath, 
walked slowly to the main street and found 
the four other lads seated on a box waiting 
for him. 

“Here he comes," said Sheets. “Did he 
get you, Bol?" 

“Naw!" 

“Did you look him in the eyes?" asked 
Scrawney. 

“Think I got eyes in the back of my 
head?" 

“Say, fellers," Bolivar continued, “I had 
a blamed narrer 'scape. Had to do some 
runnin', but he never touched me." 

Bolivar started to climb on the box, when 
Scrawney let out a loud laugh. The other 
three joined in, and while Bolivar won- 
dered Sheets sang out, “Oh, Bol, where's 
the seat of yer pants?" 

Bolivar quickly discovered the seat was 
missing. Although to him it was no laugh- 
ing matter, a broad smile spread over his 
44 



BOLIVAR CAME THROUGH MINUS THE SEAT OF HIS PANTS 







BOLIVAR BROWN 

face as he watched the convulsions of his 
friends. 

'‘Who's got the seat, Bol?" asked Bill. 

“Bluch," replied Bolivar. “I'm goin' 
home.'' 

With no further explanation, Bolivar 
started for home on a dog-trot. He crept 
into the house through the back door, 
went up the back stairs, and was soon in bed 
beside his brother Kit, and sound asleep. 

When Kit opened his eyes the next morn- 
ing he saw Bolivar, up arid dressed, intently 
examining something he was holding. Rais- 
ing himself to a sitting posture. Kit saw that 
Bolivar was inspecting a pair of jeans. 
Kit asked the reason. 

Bolivar did not reply at once, but con- 
tinued his inspection of the jeans. He 
turned them over and over, held them at 
arm's length, and went through so many 
peculiar motions with them that Kit grew 
impatient with curiosity and insisted his 
brother explain. 

“Say, Kit,'' Bolivar finally replied, “yer 
45 


BOLIVAR BROWN 


in hard luck. Look at your jeans!'' And 
he held his own up, showing the torn seat. 

''How did they get like that? " demanded 
Kit. 

"Moths," said Bolivar. "The moths 
have et the whole seat out of your jeans." 

Kit was worried. "Is that a fact?" he 
asked. "Gee whiz! I never thunk I had 
any moths in my clothes." 

"Looks like you have." 

"What had I better do?" 

"First you want to get ma to fix 'em. 
Then always carry a buckeye an' you 
won't have any more trouble like this. 
Now, I'll go down an' tell ma for you an' 
then get you a buckeye." 

He pitched the garment on a chair and 
went downstairs, wearing Kit's jeans. 

Breakfast was ready when Bolivar 
stepped in the dining room, and he was 
ready for it. He ate with a relish. After 
his usual bowl of oatmeal and cream had 
been devoured Mrs. Brown sat down oppo- 
site him to drink her coffee. She was feeling 
46 


BOLIVAR BROWN 


exceptionally well that morning and ex- 
pressed her pleasure at seeing Bolivar up 
so early. As a reward she promised him a 
piece of apple pie. 

To say Bolivar was delighted wouldn’t 
be half expressing it. Apple pie, to his 
mind, or stomach, was the triumph of cook- 
ery. He soon finished his egg and an- 
notmced he was ready for the pie. At that 
point a cry came from above. It was Kit. 
' ' Oh, ma ! ” he called. ' ‘ Come here ! ’ ’ 

''What’s the matter, I wonder,” said Mrs. 
Brown. "I’ll go up and see.” She started 
for the stairway door. 

"Ma, get my pie first!” pleaded Bolivar. 

Mrs. Brown could see no reason for hurry- 
ing the pie along, and in spite of Bolivar’s 
pleadings she started upstairs. With a 
growl of disgust Bolivar snatched his cap 
and went out the side door, over the fence, 
and down the street. 

' ' Dum that kid 1 ” he mumbled. " Had to 
holler just as I had that pie cornin’.” 
Then, with a twinkle in his eyes, he added, 
47 


BOLIVAR BROWN 

'‘Guess I better hunt him up that buck- 
eye/' 

Along the banks of the Missouri River in 
the Missoiui-Kansas vicinity are to be 
found innumerable caves and crevasses, 
formed ages ago by the working of the 
water. There are few rivers that have such 
industrious ciurents as the Missoiui. Where 
there is the slightest chance for cutting its 
banks, it cuts. Frequently the pounding 
current will encounter a vein of hard rock 
which will stand firm. In such a case, how- 
ever, the water is apt to wash the soft earth 
under the rock away and continue on its 
way until it strikes another rock. When 
conditions so combine, the river makes a 
natiual rock cave. Then a change in the 
ciurent may come and leave the cave high 
and dry. 

Bolivar and his boy friends made their 
headquarters in such a cave located just 
south of the town-limit line. Since its for- 
mation the river had shifted and left the 
48 


BOLIVAR BROWN 


cave about a hundred feet from the water. 
The boys had dug the cave out somewhat 
and shaped the interior into a room eight 
by ten feet in groimd dimensions. To make 
the place inhabitable they had furnished it 
with old chairs, a kerosene lamp, a carpet, 
three or foiu* pictures on the walls, and a 
small sheet-iron stove, in one comer, on 
which they frequently cooked. When the 
cave was cleaned up it presented rather an 
inviting appearance. 

The entrance to the cave was banked with 
rocks and sod until the opening was just 
large enough to admit one boy at a time and 
he had to crawl. In order that the location 
might not be noticed by straggling pedestri- 
ans, cottonwood boughs were loosely piled 
over the entrance. 

A prominent member of Bolivar’s crowd 
was a little negro, Eli Anderson, whose 
parents lived near the cave. Because of his 
complexion Eli had been nicknamed Inky 
by his white playmates. Inky was the chief 
funmaker of the crowd. He could sing a 
49 


BOLIVAR BROWN 


little and dance a little more, and was 
always ready and willing to do either or 
both. More than that, he owned an old 
guitar with which he accompanied his sing- 
ing. The cave without Inky would have 
been a dull place. 

When Bolivar, after waiving his right 
to the pie, reached the Square, he was 
brought to a halt by a shrill whistle and, 
turning, saw Inky approaching with a 
basket on his head. As he drew near the 
little negro took a stick of gum from his 
pocket and handed it to Bolivar. 

'‘Howdy, Bol!’' he said, setting the 
basket on the ground . ‘ ‘ What ’ s de mattah ? 
Yo looks oneasy.'' 

Bolivar put the gum in his mouth and 
chewed in silence a moment. “Oh, nothin'. 
Inky," he replied. “Guess I got up too 
early. Where you goin' ? ' ' 

“Home." 

“What's in the basket?" 

“'Taters." 

“Get yer mother to give you a couple for 
50 


BOLIVAR BROWN 


the cave. They’ll come in handy for 
dinner some day.” 

^‘Ah’ll do it.” 

“An’, say, get the kids together at the 
cave this afternoon. Me an’ Sheets wants 
to see ’em.” 

Bolivar, after leaving Inky, spent the 
morning playing marbles and swimming. 
He went home at noontime. 


V 


J OHN LAKE, President of the Paw Paw 
Comer Bank, was supposed to be the 
town’s wealthiest citizen. Uncle Ezra Fox 
owned a good deal of property, including a 
well-stocked farm north of town, and some 
considered him wealthier than Mr. Lake. 
There was no way to decide the question, 
however, and on the general concensus of 
opinion the first position financially in Paw 
Paw went to the banker. Nobody doubted 
but what John Lake was worth fifty thou- 
sand dollars, a fortune in those days. His 
big frame house was one of the town’s 
landmarks, and his team of black carriage 
horses was admired on all sides. He had a 
wife and one child, a daughter eleven years 
old, known and loved by everybody as 
Katie. John Lake was proud and haughty, 
but his wife and little girl were just the re- 
52 


BOLIVAR BROWN 


verse. Generally speaking, John Lake was 
not liked by the people of Paw Paw. How- 
ever, he did not seem to care what his fellow- 
townsmen thought of him. 

Why should I care what people think of 
me?’’ he was heard to say one day. 
owe them nothing — ^they owe me much. 
I’m of the Hamptons of Virginia. Let any 
one of them show me a family tree to match 
mine.” 

Mr. Lake had no use for Bolivar and his 
boy friends. The lads had played '‘tick- 
tack” at his windows in the night and had 
treated him just as they had other citizens. 
He hated them for these pranks and they 
knew it. The banker, as a result, was sel- 
dom spared when the boys went out at 
night to play tricks. 

Katie Lake liked Bolivar. She used to 
sit across the aisle from him in school. Of 
coiurse, Bolivar liked Katie. She was the 
sort of little girl any small boy would like. 
Her chief points of attraction were her black 
hair and her sweet disposition. Bolivar 
53 


BOLIVAR BROWN 


once had a fight with another boy because 
the other lad had thrown a stone at Katie’s 
white kitten. He didn’t tell the boy why 
he was to be attacked, as that might have 
made him (Bolivar) the object of ridicule 
among the other boys. He simply sailed 
into him, after putting the kitten in the 
Lake front yard. Katie came out of the 
house just in time to see Bolivar get 
whipped. The disgrace was hard for him 
to bear, so he went home after the fight, 
without looking Katie’s way. Next day 
she met him on the street. 

think it was nice of you to whip that 
boy for hitting my kitten,” she said. 
‘'Thank you very much!” 

BoHvar was delighted. “Gee!” he mur- 
mured as he went his way, “I didn’t know 
I licked him. But if she thinks I kin, I kin.” 

Straightway he hunted up the boy. In 
the fight that followed Bolivar came out 
victorious. 

“I was sure I c’u’d do it when she talked 
like that,” he said to himself. Then he 
54 


BOLIVAR BROWN 


went down to the river to bathe a swelling on 
his right cheek. 

John Lake reached his bank on the morn- 
ing after the boys had vi^i.^d the melon 
patch, a little late and rather cross. En- 
tering his private room, he slammed the door 
and sat down at his desk. Before him were 
piled letters which he began opening. The 
third one caused him surprise and he leaned 
back in his chair and read it the second 
time. 

“What!*' he muttered. “Jim Lake re- 
leased and coming here? Why on earth did 
God give me such a man as a brother?'’ 

The banker had an intuition that his 
brother would want money. He decided 
he’d run down to St. Joseph for a few days 
in the hope of avoiding a meeting with his 
relative. He started from the room, but was 
met at the door by the bank’s teller. 

“There’s a man out here asking for you,” 
announced the teller. 

“What does he look like?” 

“He’s about thirty-two years old and 
55 


5 


BOLIVAR BROWN 

dressed like a city man. He’s a stranger in 
Paw Paw.” 

'‘Does he know I’m here?” 

“Yes, sir. The bookkeeper told him you 
had come in.” 

“Show him in.” 

The banker resumed his seat and settled 
back in his chair. As he lighted a cigar the 
stranger — the man for whom Bolivar had 
delivered the note to Millie Brewster — en- 
tered. Offering John Lake his hand, the 
caller greeted him pleasantly with, “John, 
how are you?” 

The banker took the proffered hand. 
“Pretty well, Jim,” he replied. “When did 
you get in?” 

“I’ve only been here a few hours,” re- 
plied the stranger, taking a chair. “I’m at 
the hotel. Didn’t want to bother you at 
home imtil I’d seen you, even though we 
are brothers.” 

“Quiet, Jim, or rather, don’t mention our 
family connection so loudly just now, 
please.” 


BOLIVAR BROWN 


^'Ashamed of it, eh?'' 

*^Oh no!" And John Lake moved im- 
easily in his chair. “But these employees 
of mine don't know I ever had a brother 
and I'm not quite ready to spring the news 
on them yet." 

The stranger laughed softly and the 
banker continued, “Are you registered as 
Lake at the hotel?" 

“No. I made it Locke." 

“Good! So you have money?" 

‘ ‘ Money? Why, no. " 

“But you're stopping at the hotel." 

“Yes. I had six dollars when I struck 
town. But that coiild hardly be called 
money." 

“I presume it's money you want?" 

“I want nothing that isn't coming to 
me." 

“When are you going away?" asked the 
banker, showing signs of imeasiness. 

“John, I haven't any place to go," re- 
plied the stranger. “I'm just out. I want 
to find work and begin all over again." 

57 


BOLIVAR BROWN 


'‘I don't believe you'd like Paw Paw 
Comer." 

“I don't believe I would, either. I don't 
want to stay in this part of the Middle 
West. I'd like to go to Idaho, but, John, I 
can't go without money." 

'‘Oh, Idaho isn't so far," said the banker. 
"It wouldn't be so hard to get there." 

John Lake reached for his check book. 
The other man was silent. 

"Jim," said the banker, as he wrote, 
"you were always known as James Maxwell 
after that little mixup. I have made out a 
check here to the order of James Maxwell. 
It is for fifty dollars. That will get you to 
Idaho and give you ten dollars on which to 
get started out there. I'd prefer you keep 
the name of Maxwell, or Locke, while in 
Paw Paw." 

The banker extended the check toward 
his brother, but the latter made no move 
to accept it. 

"Why don't you take it?" demanded the 
banker, impatiently. 

58 


BOLIVAR BROWN 


^‘Fifty dollars, John?’^ Why don’t I 
take it? Ask yourself. I want only 
what is mine and I won’t take a cent 
less.” 

“Jim,” said the banker, putting the 
check in his pocket and arising abruptly, 
“I’ve got to go to St. Joe at once. There’s 
a little business there I must attend to. 
Come along with me and we’ll talk it over 
on the train. We have ten minutes to reach 
the depot.” 

The stranger made no reply. The broth- 
ers arrived at the depot just in time and 
were soon speeding toward St. Joseph. 

When Bolivar reached home after his 
swim he foimd the family at the table. 
Dropping into his chair next to Kit’s, he 
noticed his brother wore a new pair of jeans 
and seemed imusually happy. 

“Bolivar,” said Mrs. Brown, quietly, 
after a moment of silence, “your little 
trick played on Kit will cost you your pie. 
Yoiu* piece goes to Kit. Furthermore, I 
shall mend the tom jeans and you must 
59 


BOLIVAR BROWN 

wear them, patches and all. Kit has some 
new ones.” 

Bolivar did not reply. He had expected 
to have his ears boxed, but he little thought 
he would be deprived of his pie. It was an 
awful blow. Finishing his meal ahead of 
the rest, he picked up his hat and went out 
into the kitchen, intending to leave the 
house by the back door. As he closed the 
door leading to the dining room, he caught 
a glimpse of Kit’s beaming face and heard 
him call: 

''Oh, Bol, got that buckeye for me, yet?” 

Turning away with a grunt, Bolivar 
caught sight of the pie, cut in pieces, all 
ready to be served. One piece was double 
the size of the others and he knew that was 
Kit’s. At first he decided to eat that piece, 
but, acting on a second impulse, he tiptoed 
into the pantry and foimd the red-pepper 
can. Making an incision in Kit’s pie with 
a knife, he poured pepper in the hole and 
went his way out of the house. 

''Buckeyes are good for moths,” he 
6o 


BOLIVAR BROWN 

chuckled, '‘but they won’t work on red 
pepper.” 

Climbing the back fence, he headed for 
the cave. On the way he picked up Skeets, 
Scrawney, Bill, Jimmy, and Inky, the last 
named with his guitar under his arm. When 
the party arrived at the entrance of the 
cave Skeets pulled the boughs aside and 
the boys entered, crawling single file. The 
aperture was left imobstructed in order 
that there might be light, there being no 
oil in the lamp. Each boy selected a seat 
and Inky began to time his guitar. Having 
attended to this, the little negro sang a song 
called "Lazy Lize.” The boys all joined in 
the chorus, which went something like this: 

“Lazy Lize; Lazy Lize, 

Yo’ hab got sech lubly eyes. 

Doan’ yo’ fret, mah black pet, 

We’ll get married soon, yo’ bet.” 

"Well, fellers,” said Bolivar when Inky 
had put his guitar in a comer, "I thought 

6i 


BOLIVAR BROWN 


of a scheme to-day. We been wishin^ this 
cave had two rooms ’stead of one, ’ain’t 
we?” 

“We sure have,” replied Scrawney. 

“Well,” continued Bolivar, “to get out 
some of that rock we gotta blast, ’ain’t we? ” 

“They ain’t any other way I know of,” 
said Skeets. 

“An’ to blast we gotta have giant powder 
and to get giant powder we gotta have 
money. Now, fellers, here’s a stumper — 
how we goin’ to get the money?” 

Bolivar settled back and waited for a 
reply, but none was forthcoming. Finally 
Scrawney replied: “I don’t see any money 
in sight. Guess this here one room ’ll have 
to do.” 

“Guess it will,” agreed Skeets. 

“Ah, gee! You ain’t going to give up 
that easy, are you?” asked Bolivar. 

“What kin we do?” asked Jimmy. 

“My idee is to give a show.” 

“Boy, you sho’ly spoke a parable,” 
shouted Inky, enthusiastically. 

62 


BOLIVAR BROWN 


The idea so delighted Inky that he sprang 
to the middle of the room and executed a 
hoe-down, finally dropping back into his 
seat breathless and grinning. The other 
boys liked the suggestion. 

'‘You know that old blacksmith shop that 
’ain’t been used on the alley by Skeets’s 
home?” queried Bolivar. 

"Yep,” said Scrawney. 

"It b’longs to Skeets’s dad. There’s our 
opry house.” 

"Bully!” said Bill. 

"Now ’bout the show. I figgered a min- 
strel would ’bout suit our talents. Inky an’ 
his guitar kin be the orchestry. How’s 
that?” 

The boys were highly delighted. It was 
arranged that a meeting should be held at 
the old shop the next day for the first 
rehearsal. 

Other plans concerning the show were 
discussed and each boy was given some 
commission to perform before the rehearsal. 
63 


BOLIVAR BROWN 


As the youngsters crawled out of the cave 
Sheets had an idea. 

'‘Say, Bol,'' he asked, “how we goin' to 
get people to come to the show? We ain’t 
much good on the stage.” 

Bolivar was stumped for a moment. 
Here was a point he hadn’t considered. A 
moment of thinking, however, solved the 
problem. 

“I’ve got it,” he exclaimed. “We’ll give 
it for the benefit of the church. We’ll show 
my collection of teeth and give the money 
to the heathens of the Methodist church 
and the Cave Improvement Company.” 

“Fine!” shouted Skeets. “But how 
much of the money will the heathens get?” 

“Oh, ’bout a cent out of every dime.” 

“Great!” was Scrawney’s comment. 
Then he added with a grin: “Why, I bet 
even Ann Eliza Chase will come to help the 
heathens.” 

It brought a big laugh from the boys who 
then separated and started for their homes. 


VI 


AW PAW CORNER had known many 



1 shows given by its juvenile population. 
Usually the performance had taken place in 
a bam and the admission fee had been from 
two to twenty pins. Never had real money 
been charged. But the show planned by the 
cave boys was to be an exception. A new 
opera house was to be made out of the old 
blacksmith shop, equipped with a stage, 
footlights, and even a curtain, and so much 
time was to be spent rehearsing and such 
rare curiosities were to be exhibited that 
the boys felt justified in asking real money 
on this occasion. The admission was 
fixed at five cents. 

Bolivar was to be master of ceremonies 
and interlocutor. Skeets was to be one 
end man and Inky the other. The other 


BOLIVAR BROWN 


boys were to sit in the semicircle and join 
in the singing. 

Besides Bolivar’s collection of teeth there 
would be on exhibition a rat terrier belong- 
ing to Sheets, which would be put in the 
‘'wild animal section,” together with a cat, 
two chickens, and two white rats, the latter 
the property of Scrawney. It was decided 
that the minstrel portion of the show should 
be held first, after which the ciuiosities and 
animals would be exhibited one by one, 
while Bolivar explained their points of 
attractiveness. 

For two days the boys worked like 
beavers building the stage and making 
seats with lumber obtained from a near-by 
tumble-down shanty. Three of the young- 
sters brought a sheet each from home and 
from these the curtain was made. While 
hard at work the second day a bright idea 
came to Bolivar. Dropping his hammer, he 
called the boys to the stage. 

“Say, fellers,” he began, “we forgot 
somethin’.” 


66 


BOLIVAR BROWN 


^^What?'’ asked Scrawney. 

''The parade. We gotta have a parade.*' 

"That’s the ticket," said Skeets. "A 
parade will sure get us a crowd." 

"It sho will," said Inky. "I’se in favah 
ob it." 

It was arranged then and there that the 
parade should take place at noon on the 
day of the show. Bolivar volunteered to 
furnish the sign announcing the perform- 
ance and Bill said he’d carry it. Inky 
agreed to beat Bolivar’s old drum, and 
Skeets said he’d carry a flag. Until Satur- 
day the boys did little else but work on the 
opera house and prepare for the parade. 

The usual faker was addressing the usual 
crowd at the comer of the Square at noon 
on Saturday when from the distance came 
the measured beat of a drum. The faker 
stopped talking and the crowd became curi- 
ous. Nearer and nearer came the dmm- 
beat. Then around a comer came a 
diminutive black boy wearing a high silk 
hat and poimding away with two drum- 
67 


BOLIVAR BROWN 


sticks. Five boys trailed him, the first 
being Sheets, leading a Newfotmdland dog 
with a ribbon on its tail. Next came the 
signbearer proudly carrying a rudely painted 
square yard of white cloth on which had 
been painted: 

GRAN SHOW TO-DAY, 

OLE BLACKSMITH SHOPP, 

FOR THE HEATHEN OF THE 
METHODIS CHURCH 
AND THE CAVE 
COME 

To say the crowd was surprised would 
not be putting it strongly enough. Many 
were members of the Methodist church. 
The faker was forgotten, and he didn't 
seem to care. It was the queerest sight 
Paw Paw Corner had seen in a long time. 

When the faker and the crowd recovered 
from their surprise the boys had disap- 
peared around another comer with a dozen 
youngsters, who had been in the faker’s 
gathering, mnning after them. Proudly 
68 


THE PARADE 





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# 








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\ 


1 ^ • 

f J 

* • 






¥ 


t 




r 

■« 





» 


t 





V 


'V 









« 


4 




» 


‘ < 





s 



• f 









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*• 




#' 


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<^v 

f 






BOLIVAR BROWN 


the procession moved two squares more and 
then headed for the ''opera house/' 

Just as Inky turned the final comer 
before reaching the blacksmith shop he 
was hailed from the sidewalk by a tall, se- 
date man wearing black. "Say, boys!” he 
called, and then he mshed to the middle of 
the street, waving his umbrella. It was the 
Rev. Fennimore Beggs, pastor of the Meth- 
odist church of Paw Paw Comer. 

"Here, you boys!” the preacher almost 
screamed. "You must destroy that sign. 
What do you mean? What do you mean? 
You are slandering and disgracing my 
church.” 

For an instant Inky, who was nearest the 
preacher, was speechless with fear. Bill 
drew near him, however, and, taking cour- 
age, the little negro replied: 

"Why, Mistah Beggs, we gwine ter he'p 
yoh heatheners.” 

"Yes,” chimed in Bolivar, "we're work- 
in' for you. Mister Beggs. We're tryin' to 
get money for the heathens in your church.” 

69 


BOLIVAR BROWN 


The preacher was perplexed. The boys 
appeared to mean well, yet their procession 
was ridiculous, and he did not relish the 
idea of having his church laughed at. It 
was apparent he didn’t know just how to 
handle the situation, for the moment. 

''My little friends,” he finally began, "I 
know you mean well enough, but — ” 

He got no further. A shrill voice, tm- 
mistakably that of an irate woman, inter- 
rupted him. It was the voice of Ann Eliza 
Chase. 

"Well, Bolivar Brown!” she said. "You 
young scallawag, you! What do you mean 
by disgracing the church — yoin* father’s 
church, too? Hey, what do you mean?” 

Turning, she noticed the presence of the 
preacher for the first time. Addressing 
him, she said: 

"Save our chturch, Brother Beggs. Isn’t 
it terrible?” 

Ann Eliza stopped, all out of breath, and 
stood, arms akimbo, waiting for action 
from the preacher. Undecided as the latter 
70 


BOLIVAR BROWN 


may have been up to that point, he saw his 
duty now. Incidentally, the unusual sight 
of the preacher and the old maid standing 
in the street surrounded by the boys at- 
tracted a goodly crowd of people. This 
fact served to urge the preacher on. 

'‘Bolivar,’* he said, sternly, "this thing 
has gone far enough. You must destroy 
that sign.” 

"Yes, Bolivar Brown, you’re disgracing 
the church,” shouted the old maid. "If 
you don’t quit it I’ll get the law onto you. 
You hear me?” 

The crowd increased in size steadily and 
Bolivar noticed that the show was receiving 
excellent advertisement. The preacher be- 
gan to edge toward the sidewalk. It was 
up to Bolivar to say something. 

"O’ course. Mister Beggs,” he said, "we 
won’t do nothin’ for you an’ Miss Chase’s 
heathen if you ain’t agreeable to it. We 
only got a block more to go, so we’ll march 
on an’ then we won’t parade any more with 
the sign. Is that all satisfactory?” 

6 71 


BOLIVAR BROWN 


Doctor Beggs, anxious to fade from the 
public eye, readily agreed, and the pro- 
cession formed again and moved away with 
the crowd, or most of it, following and 
laughing. The sign had done the work. 
Bolivar Brown's show for the heathen was 
the talk of the town. Ann Eliza Chase was 
rip-roaring mad over it and did not hesitate 
to say so. 

When Miss Chase stopped in front of 
Uncle Ezra Fox's house, on her way home, 
and told him savagely how the chmch had 
been disgraced, Uncle Ezra laughed. It 
was one of the side-splitting laughs for 
which he was famous. 

‘'Why, Miss Chase," he said, when he 
recovered, "you wusn't never a boy." 

"For which I am truly thankful," she 
snapped. 

"Well, I wus," Uncle Ezra continued. 
"I'm a goin' to that show. I'd go if I had 
to pay a dollar to get in an' had to borrer 
the dollar. Boys 'ull be boys an' that Bol 
Brown sure is a wonder. It's a front seat 
72 


BOLIVAR BROWN 


at the show for me.” And Uncle Ezra in- 
dulged in another side-splitter. 

Ann Eliza Chase was furious with Uncle 
Ezra. Frowning deeply, she moved away 
without further comment. 

'^Better come along an’ see the show?” 
Uncle Ezra suggested. 

'‘Not me!” was her reply, as she quick- 
ened her pace. 

Although the curtain was not to rise until 
two-thirty o’clock, by one there were a 
dozen boys waiting at the door of the black- 
smith shop to be admitted. Half an horn: 
later, when Bolivar began to sell tickets, 
there were more than thirty. By two-fifteen 
an audience of about fifty people had gath- 
ered in the “theater.” Boys were in the 
majority, but the number of girls and adults 
surprised Bolivar greatly. He had not ex- 
pected them. Shortly after two Uncle 
Ezra approached Bolivar and bought a 
ticket. 

“How much, Bol?” he asked. 

“Fi’ cents.” 


73 


BOLIVAR BROWN 


“Here’s a quarter. ’Ain’t got nothin’ 
less.” 

And Uncle Ezra moved toward the en- 
trance, refusing his change. At that point 
a rustle* of skirts was heard and a shrill 
voice said: 

' ‘ Bolivar Brown, I want a ticket. There’s 
your nickel.” 

It was Ann Eliza Chase. She glared at 
the boy like a tigress. 

Bolivar was greatly surprised; so was 
Uncle Ezra. She received her ticket and, 
turning, came face to face with Uncle 
Ezra. 

“Why, howdy. Miss Chase!” he said, 
with a twinkle in his eye. “Thought you 
said you wusn’t cornin’ to the show?” 

Looking straight at Bolivar, the old maid 
replied: “I wasn’t, but I thought the 
church should have somebody here to see 
these good-fer-nothing boys don’t heap any 
more disgrace on it. That’s why I came.” 

With that Miss Chase gave her ticket to 
Skeets, at the entrance, and passed haugh- 
74 


BOLIVAR BROWN 


tily in. Uncle Ezra grinned at Bolivar; 
then at Sheets. 

'‘Gee, whiz, boys!” was his comment as 
he proceeded into the theater. 

Promptly at two-thirty by Uncle Ezra’s 
watch Bolivar and Sheets went behind the 
scenes, leaving the door in charge of Eddie 
Berry, one of the small boys in the audience. 
Eddie, although he had paid his nichel to 
see the show, was highly honored with the 
duty imposed on him. He guarded the en- 
trance zealously, even going so far as to 
chase a little negro boy away from the side- 
walh and to throw rochs at a big dog that 
was loafing on the other side of the street. 

After ten minutes spent in smearing their 
faces with burnt cork of their own make, 
the boys, with the exception of Inky and 
Skeets, took their places in the semicircle. 
Inky and Skeets, being the end men, re- 
mained behind to make a "grand entrance” 
and, incidentally, to pull the curtain up. 
All being in readiness, Bolivar, from his 
position in the middle, gave the signal, and 
75 


BOLIVAR BROWN 


the wall of white, composed of the three 
sheets, was pulled out of the way. The au- 
dience applauded vigorously. When the 
noise died away, Bolivar stood up and said: 

''I will now interduce Mr. Sheets, end 
man for the cave, and Mister Inky, end man 
for the heathens.” 

Sheets and Inky marched across the stage 
in true minstrel style and took their places 
at the ends of the semicircle. Ann Eliza 
Chase had been seen to start nervously at 
the mention of the word “heathens,” but 
she remained silent. Uncle Ezra Fox was 
almost ready to burst with suppressed 
laughter. 

The end men having arrived, Bolivar 
announced that Inky would sing “One Mo’ 
Ribber fo’ to Cross.” With his guitar 
hanging by a string from his neck, the little 
negro took the middle of the stage and 
rendered his number very creditably. He 
was forced to respond to three encores 
before the audience was willing to let the 
show proceed. 


76 


BOLIVAR BROWN 


! 


When he was finally permitted to resume 
his chair, Inky turned to Bolivar and said: 

‘^Mistah Brown, does yo’ know why lots 
ob Paw Paw Co’nah folks doan’ hab to 
wohry ’bout goin’ ter de bad place?” 

Receiving Bolivar’s negative answer. Inky 
continued, ^'Because dey is too green ter 
bum.” 

The joke hit Uncle Ezra Fox just right. 
It seemed that he had been waiting for the 
opportunity to release his pent-up mirth 
and he biu*st out with a loud, '‘Ha, ha, ha!” 
Next in his merriment he leaned so far back 
in his chair that it gave way and pre- 
cipitated him on the floor. The accident 
pleased Ann Eliza Chase greatly and she 
was convulsed with laughter. It was neces- 
sary to stop the show imtil Uncle Ezra re- 
covered his equilibrium and Miss Chase re- 
gained her composure. Bolivar then an- 
noimced that Sheets would sing, "The 
Babies in Oiu* Block.” 

Even though he did start in the wrong 
key. Sheets made a hit with the song and 
77 


BOLIVAR BROWN 


had to respond to two encores. Just as he 
was preparing to tell a joke there came a 
loud rumbling noise from overhead. It 
sounded as though the roof was being tom 
off. Again the performance stopped and 
for a few seconds audience and performers 
sat motionless, wondering what was the 
cause of the noise. The rumbling ended 
with a biunping soimd, which seemed to in- 
dicate that something had dropped from the 
roof. Everybody mshed outside, and there 
they found Chuck Andrews, son of the 
cobbler, sitting on the groimd holding one 
hand to his mouth and crying. He had 
come to grief while stealing a look at the 
show through a small hole in the roof. 

A physical examination of the boy, con- 
ducted by Uncle Ezra Fox, showed that the 
loss of a tooth was the extent of Chuck's 
injiuies. The yoimgster’s sister, who was 
in the audience, took him home and the 
performance was resumed. 

A joke from Skeets, two more from Inky, 
and a song from Bill completed the min- 
78 


BOLIVAR BROWN 


strel portion of the entertainment, and then 
Bolivar announced that he would exhibit 
some relics and curiosities. As the audience 
applauded with vigor the curtain came 
down and Bolivar hurriedly washed off 
most of the black he had smeared on his 
face. Five minutes later he was out near 
the door with his ciuiosities spread before 
him on a little table. They consisted 
merely of the teeth the street dentist had 
abstracted from the jaws of Sheets and 
himself. The crowd, all but Miss Chase, 
seemed highly interested in the teeth. 
Ann Eliza was disgusted. 

“Now, ladies and gents,” said Bolivar, 
when all had examined the teeth minutely, 
“I got a surprise for you.” 

Drawing a small piece of white substance 
from his pocket, he exhibited it proudly. 

“This here,” he annoimced, “is the tooth 
of our feller-townsman, Chuck Andrews, 
lost by him in his turrible fall from the roof 
of our opry house.” 

Miss Chase hurried out at this point, 
79 


BOLIVAR BROWN 


declaring she really feared she’d never be 
able to eat again. The '‘curiosities ” having 
been thoroughly exhibited for the edifica- 
tion of all, the crowd passed out of the place 
and dispersed. Thus closed the show, 
leaving the Cave Improvement Company 
and the “heathens” ahead two dollars and 
seventy cents and a knife with one broken 
blade which Bolivar had accepted from a 
small boy in lieu of cash. The boys were 
certain the show had proved a grand suc- 
cess and so was Uncle Ezra Fox. 


VII 



‘HEN the St. Joseph evening paper 


V V reached Paw Paw Comer Saturday 
night it contained a piece of news that 
caused a sensation. The story concerned 
John Lake and there was half a column of 
it on the front page. It was headed some- 
thing like this: 


JOHN LAKE ASSAULTED 


Paw Paw Comer Banker Attacked Here Last Night by 
an Unknown — Injuries Slight. 

The article said that Mr. Lake, whq had 
been in St. Joseph several days on business, 
had been attacked while on his way to a 
theatrical performance. The assassin, the 
paper said, was undoubtedly bent on rob- 
bing the banker. He had slipped up behind 


8i 


BOLIVAR BROWN 

Mr. Lake and had struck him on the head 
with some blimt instrument. The assault 
had occurred as the Paw Paw Comer man 
was passing an alley on Felix Street. Mr. 
Lake was knocked down by the blow, but 
the arrival of a policeman caused the hold- 
up man to take to his heels before he could 
relieve the banker of his money and other 
valuables. The paper quoted Mr. Lake as 
follows : 

“ I was passing along Felix Street last night on my way 
from the Pacific House to a theater. As I passed the 
alley on the south side of the street, between Fourth and 
Fifth, I was struck from behind and knocked down. I 
did not lose consciousness. Whoever the person was who 
hit me was imdoubtedly a robber, but he was frightened 
away by a policeman before he could rifle my pockets. 
I had quite a stun of money with me, but it is not probable 
that the marauder knew this.” 

“Mr. Lake,” the paper went on to say, 
“is one of Northwest Missouri’s most prom- 
inent business men. He is inclined to re- 
gard the incident lightly, and, being a big- 
hearted man, has asked the police not to 
82 


BOLIVAR BROWN 


search for the assassin, who, he thinks, was 
some poor fellow in need of money for food.” 

The assault gave the loiterers in Pick- 
wick’s store something to talk about and 
guess at. They were all agreed that the 
banker should have offered a reward for the 
apprehension of the assassin and could not 
understand why he had not done so. 

“It looks a bit queer to me,” said Uncle 
Ezra Fox in the store on Simday morning. 
“John Lake ain’t so big hearted that he’d 
let some feller knock him down without . 
tryin’ to get quits with him.” 

“Don’t you reckon mebbe he’s thinkin’ 
’bout what a reward might cost him?” 
queried Peleg Lee. 

“I got a idee he is,” came from Mr. Pick- 
wick. “He’s quite good at hangin’ on to the 
pennies — ^leastways, he is when he’s in this 
store.” 

“That ain’t it,” said Uncle Ezra. 
“There’s mighty few men who, when bit, 
wouldn’t give a nickel to bite back, an’ John 
Lake ain’t out of the ordinary in that re- , 
83 


BOLIVAR BROWN 


spect. Lake ain’t big hearted, I tell you. 
Even if he was, it wouldn’t make no differ- 
ence in a case like this. Hit a big-hearted 
man on the head from behind an’ you’ll 
shrink his heart to the hittin’-back size. I 
don’t understand this here assault at all.” 

Mr. Lake arrived in Paw Paw Corner on 
the evening train Sunday and went straight 
to his bank. Those who saw him noticed a 
small piece of court-plaster on his head, but 
otherwise there were no evidences of the 
assault. He avoided discussing the affair. 
Nobody was at the bank, and, after looking 
over some mail, he left the building and 
walked briskly to the residence of James 
Todd, his teller. Mr. Todd was at home 
and ushered him into the parlor. 

can stay but a moment,” said Mr. 
Lake. ‘H just dropped in to ask how the 
bank has been getting along since I left.” 

” Excellently,” replied the teller. 

“Good! By the way, Todd, do you^ 
remember a man you ushered into my office, 
last Monday, I think it was?” 

84 


BOLIVAR BROWN 


''Yes, I believe I do. You mean that 
stranger/' 

"Yes. I wish you would say nothing 
about his call. For business reasons I’d 
rather not have it known. I hope you 
haven’t spoken to Anyone of him.’’ 

"I don’t think I have,’’ said the teller. 
"I was very busy that day and scarcely 
noticed him. You may' rest assured I shall 
say nothing about him.’’ 

The banker was pleased. Avoiding a 
lengthy discussion of the assault in St. Jo- 
seph, he left the Todd home and went to 
his own and ate his supper. After the meal 
he visited his family physician. Doctor 
Dalton, to have him dress the wound on his 
head. Doctor Dalton foimd the wound 
very slight, but thought he detected marks 
on the banker’s throat. 

"It looks as though somebody had tried 
to choke you,’’ he said. 

The banker seemed surprised. ' ' I don’t re- 
member that the man clutched my throat,’’ 
he said. "You must be wrong, doctor.” 

85 


BOLIVAR BROWN 

The abrasions were minor and the doctor 
said nothing more about them. The banker 
went home. 

The Stmday paper, which arrived from 
St. Joseph about noon, had a second story 
about the assault, in which it was stated 
that a small pearl-handled revolver, bearing 
the initials '‘J. L.” had been picked up at 
the scene of the affair and tinned over to 
the police. One cartridge had been snapped 
but had failed to explode. Mr. Lake noti- 
fied the police that the weapon was his and 
explained that it must have dropped from 
his pocket when he fell. He cleared away 
the mystery of the snapped cartridge by 
saying he had attempted to shoot a rabbit 
while driving near Paw Paw Comer several 
days before going to St. Joseph. The police 
forwarded the revolver to him. 

The people of Paw Paw Comer read 
about the revolver with much interest, but 
the entire matter wore itself out with the 
gossips in two or three days. No develop- 
ments came and Mr. Lake would not dis- 
86 


BOLIVAR BROWN 


cuss the assault. Uncle Ezra Fox was not 
satisfied. He believed some mysterious 
featiu*e of the mixup was being withheld. 

^'Some day/' he said in Pickwick's store, 
we'll know more about that St. Joe affair. 
Just you wait an' see." 

When Bolivar dropped into his chair at 
the supper table on arriving home after the 
show, Doctor Brown looked at him sternly. 

''Bolivar," he said, "I have been told of 
your disgraceful use of the church in con- 
nection with your show." 

"Who told you, dad?" asked Kit. 

"Quiet, Christopher! I am addressing 
Bolivar." Then, to the culprit, he con- 
tinued: "It was Miss Chase who told me. 
She said it was disgusting. I have decided, 
my son, that you must make amends for 
your shocking conduct. To-morrow you 
must accompany your mother and me to 
church. There must be no evasion. Do you 
understand me? " 

"Yes, sir!" replied Bolivar meekly. 

7 ^7 


BOLIVAR BROWN 


“And, furthermore, you must go every 
Sunday for two months/' 

Bolivar did not reply and the subject was 
dropped. The boy had no intention of 
going to church the following day. As he 
ate in silence he made up his mind to rise 
early and slip off without breakfast, if 
necessary, to avoid carrying out his father's 
order. There were two reasons why he 
didn't like to go to worship. The services 
bored him and the other boys who didn't 
have to go teased him. 

After supper Bolivar and Kit went to 
their room and to bed. Kit was in a mood 
for talking, but his brother was silent and 
grumpy. They had been in bed but a few 
minutes when Kit nudged Bolivar and 
asked : 

“Well, goin' to church to-morrer, eh?" 

There was no reply from Bolivar. 

“Goin' to drop a quarter of yer heathen 
money in the box?" 

“Mebbe," growled Bolivar. “What you 
goin' to drop, a buckeye or a piece of pie?" 

88 


BOLIVAR BROWN 


The reply effectually squelched Kit, and 
in a short time both boys were asleep. 

Contrary to his wish, Bolivar did not 
wake early. It was after nine o’clock when 
Kit and he opened their eyes at about the 
same time. Bolivar knew it was late be- 
cause the stm was shining across the bed. 
He decided he’d better get up and get out 
if he was to escape going to church. Lazily 
he crawled from the bed, with Kit close 
behind him, and both looked for their 
clothes. Kit fotmd his, but Bolivar’s were 
not in the room. Kit dressed while Bolivar 
himted. Finally the truth dawned on 
Bolivar. His father had removed the gar- 
ments to prevent his son’s escape. Stop- 
ping in the middle of the floor, Bolivar said 
to Kit: 

^‘Kit, I’ll give you a dime if you’ll lend 
me yoiu* shirt an’ pants.” 

''Where’s yours?” asked Kit. 

"Ma’s mendin’ ’em, I guess.” 

"Can’t do it,” said Kit, with a grin, as 
he started out of the room. "I’ll go get 
89 


BOLIVAR BROWN 

you one of Mary's dresses if you want me 
to." 

Bolivar, thoroughly angry, started for 
his brother, and as Kit went through the 
door he received a kick that sent him flying 
down the hall. Bolivar then went back to 
bed. There seemed to be nothing else to do. 

He had been in bed but a few minutes 
when Doctor Brown entered the room, 
carrying the lad’s Sunday clothes. These he 
deposited on a chair. 

"There, my son, are your clothes," said 
Doctor Brown. "Get up and dress for 
church. I took your others out of the room 
last night. Furthermore, I took from your 
pocket all the show money, which I shall 
return to you after church. If you are not 
on hand at services every cent of it shall be 
dropped in the contribution box." 

Mr. Brown left the room and Bolivar re- 
mained in bed deep in thought. For once 
in his life he had to admit he was stumped. 
He could think of absolutely no scheme 
whereby he might escape going to church. 

90 


BOLIVAR BROWN 


He couldn’t have the show money dropped 
in the plate, as it wasn’t all his, and the 
only way he could recover it was to obey 
his father. There was no getting out of it, 
so Bolivar put on his clothes. He took all 
the time he could in arraying himself in his 
clothing, and when he went downstairs he 
found the family about ready to start. He 
decided to make one final effort to escape 
the humiliation of going to chtirch, es- 
pecially with the family. 

‘'Oh, dad,” he said, “do I have to go?” 

“Indeed you do!” replied Doctor Brown. 

“Well, I want to go ’round to Skeets’s 
house first. I’ll meet you at the door of the 
church.” 

“No, you won’t. Y ou’ll come right along 
with us.” 

That settled it, and fifteen minutes later 
the family started out. Doctor Brown and 
Kit went ahead; Mary and the baby were 
next, and then came Bolivar and his mother. 
Bolivar hoped sincerely that he might be 
able to make the journey without being 
91 


BOLIVAR BROWN 


seen by any of the boys, but disappointment 
was to be his lot. Halfway down the second 
block Scrawney was sitting on a board fence, 
whittling. 

Scrawney saw Bolivar a quarter of a 
block away and, catching the unhappy 
boy's eye, made a face at him. When Boli- 
var looked again Scrawney had his hands 
clasped and was looking solemnly in the 
air as though in prayer. Scrawney’s pan- 
tomime continued until Bolivar was about 
to pass him and then he snickered. It was 
more than Bolivar could stand. Unno- 
ticed by his mother, Bolivar gave Scrawney 
a push that sent him off the fence to the 
ground on the other side. Not a sound 
came from Scrawney, and a moment later, 
when Bolivar looked back, he saw his per- 
secutor sitting on the fence again, rubbing 
his elbow. It was sweet revenge for Bolivar. 

The opening hymn found Bolivar seated 
beside his mother in the Brown pew. Sourly 
he looked around, and then, much to his 
joy, he found directly in front of him an- 
92 


BOLIVAR BROWN 


other dressed-up bored lad, none other 
than Sheets. After the hymn Sheets felt a 
nudge in the bach. He turned his head 
slightly and caught a whisper, which said: 

''What brought you here. Sheets?'' 

"Ma’s pimishin' me fer the show," 
Sheets whispered. 

"Same here!" 

Ann Eliza Chase, a neighbor of the Wilson 
family, had accompanied Mrs. Wilson and 
Sheets to church and was occupying the 
Wilson pew, with Sheets on one side and 
his mother on the other. Bolivar was 
certain the old maid was primarily respon- 
sible for the vigilance on the part of his 
father that had resulted in the carrying out 
of the sentence. He believed, further, that 
it was her influence that had brought 
Sheets to the services. Bolivar made a 
mental resolve to get even with Ann Eliza 
Chase some day, somehow. 


VIII 


T he discovery of Skeets in church being 
punished also pleased Bolivar, and he 
felt loo per cent better. He even tried to 
sing a little when his mother held the 
hymn book before him. He noticed, how- 
ever, that when he sang Miss Chase stopped, 
so he decided to let her have the field. For 
the first half hour Bolivar got along fairly 
well, but when the preacher annoimced the 
sermon he grew restless. 

By the time Doctor Beggs was fairly 
laimched in his sermon Bolivar was almost 
ready to burst with pent-up energy and he 
began to seek divertisement to relieve the 
monotony. After untying his shoe strings 
and tying them up again, he examined the 
contents of his pockets. Next he looked 
through a hymn book, thinking possibly 
94 


BOLIVAR BROWN 


he might find a picture. Thus he relieved 
his feelings for a while, but it wasn’t long 
until he was restless again. 

Leaning forward, he touched Sheets on 
the arm. Sheets turned slightly and Bolivar 
whispered. 

'‘Ain’t you about ready to bust?” 

Sheets did not dare reply, and Bolivar 
tried it again. 

“Got any chewin’ gum?” 

This time Sheets paid not the slightest 
attention and Bolivar was provohed. Tah- 
ing a pin from his waistband, he stuch 
Sheets in the arm. The sudden pain caused 
Sheets to jump and say, “Ouch!” Doctor 
Beggs brought his discourse to an abrupt 
end and loohed straight at Sheets, who col- 
ored and rubbed his arm. Bolivar opened 
a hymn booh and glued his eyes on its 
pages. Miss Chase moved several inches 
away from Sheets and murmured, “Well!” 
Doctor Beggs hept his gaze fixed on Sheets 
a moment and then resumed his talh. 
Mrs. Wilson was humiliated. 


95 


BOLIVAR BROWN 


Ten minutes later Bolivar was more rest- 
less than ever and he began another hunt 
for something to do to make the minutes 
fly. On the floor was a big grasshopper, and 
Bolivar soon made him a prisoner. 

“Spit tobacco !“ commanded the boy. 
The grasshopper obeyed and Bolivar was 
in honor bound to let it go. Again he be- 
came restless. 

As in the case of many churches, there 
were no partitions tmder the seats in the 
Paw Paw Methodist edifice. Bolivar dis- 
covered this fact after the grasshopper had 
gone, and he decided to work off a little 
temperament on Skeets’s feet. He waited 
imtil Doctor Beggs was announcing the final 
prayer, and then, as the congregation knelt, 
he dropped to his knees. Putting his 
hands under the pew ahead he grasped an 
ankle firmly in each one. He gave the 
ankles a squeeze and the owner pulled hard 
to release them. 

“Gee!'' murmured Bolivar, “Skeets is 
skinnier than I thought he was." 

96 


BOLIVAR BROWN 


Again he squeezed and once more the 
owner of the ankles pulled. Bolivar next 
knocked the feet together. The legs pulled, 
but his grip was not to be broken, and he 
held on all through the prayer. 

So intent was Bolivar on tormenting 
Skeets that he did not notice the end of the 
prayer nor did he see the congregation rise. 
He was still holding the ankles and their 
owner was struggling furiously to release 
them when the people began to pass out of 
the church. At this juncture a shrill femin- 
ine voice called: 

^'Bolivar Brown, you let go my ankles.'" 

The boy immediately released the ankles 
and, rising, came face to face with Ann Eliza 
Chase, who was boiling over with rage. 

Doctor Beggs, who had started for his 
study room, stopped and looked at Miss 
Chase. So did all the members of the con- 
gregation who had not left the church. 
Uncle Ezra Fox was seen to leave his seat 
near the door and make a hurried exit, 
holding his sides. 


97 


BOLIVAR BROWN 


Doctor Beggs gazed at Bolivar a moment 
and then continued on his way, evidently 
realizing that, whatever the trouble was, it 
was all over. Sheets slipped away, grinning, 
and Bolivar followed. He managed to be- 
come separated from the rest of the Brown 
family in the crowd and, reaching the open 
air, disappeared aroimd a comer as quickly 
as he could. 

“Dam it!'' he muttered. “How did I 
know they was that old maid's legs? I 
thought they was Skeets's. I b'lieve I'll 
take a punch at that feller when I get 
him.'' 

Miss Chase did not wait for Mrs. Wilson. 
She hurried out of the church and went 
home. Her peculiar actions were a live 
topic of conversation among the members 
of the congregation. Sheets was tickled and 
so was Uncle Ezra Fox. 

After mnning for three blocks, Bolivar 
dropped into a walk and headed for the 
cave. He deemed it inadvisable to go home 
to dinner, since he had his doubts as to 
98 



M 


“bolivar brown, you let go my ankles 



BOLIVAR BROWN 


whether or not he would be permitted to 
eat any. And then he thought it best to 
give his father a chance to think things 
over and acquire some calm before facing 
him. He could go without eating until 
supper time, and he made up his mind to 
pursue that comse. 

But as Bolivar was passing the Anderson 
cabin an idea came to him, suggested by the 
sight of Inky’s home! Acting on it, he 
opened the gate and walked around the 
house. Through a window in the rear he 
saw the negro family at dinner, and, step- 
ping up to the back door, he rapped. Inky 
opened the door and Bolivar went in. 

Zeb Anderson and Inky’s two sisters 
greeted the white boy pleasantly. Mrs. 
Anderson went farther. 

'‘Bol, yo’ had dinnah yet?” she asked. 

Bolivar hesitated, and she anticipated 
his reply. ”Ah don’t reckon yo’ is, so ef 
yo’ ain’t too proud to eat with cullud folks, 
draw up an’ light in.” 

Bolivar wasn’t proud. His parents looked 
99 


BOLIVAR BROWN 


on negroes only as good servants and always 
kept them in their places, but their son 
drew no color line. The race question 
didn’t bother him. The invitation to eat 
was just what he wanted and he lost no 
time in drawing up a chair. He sat between 
Inky and Mrs. Anderson and his plate was 
heaped with scrambled eggs, com bread, 
and fried potatoes. The Andersons were 
pleased to be hosts to the white boy and 
plainly showed it. All were eager to wait 
on him and he was given the best of 
everything. 

Mrs. Anderson did most of the talking 
for the family. She plied the boy with 
question after question, all of which Bolivar 
answered between mouthfuls. Among oth- 
ers, she asked about Ann Eliza Chase, 
Uncle Ezra Fox, and John Lake. She had 
just mentioned the banker when, on looking 
out the window, she exclaimed: 

'‘Why, theh’s Mistah Lake now! I won- 
dah what he’s prowlin’ ’round heah for?” 

Through the window Mr. Lake could be 


100 


BOLIVAR BROWN 


seen stooping to pick up something just a 
few feet from the cave. What he was doing 
there was more than Bolivar could guess. 
The simple fact that he was in the vicinity 
was not unusual, since he was in the habit 
of taking a walk every pleasant Sunday. 
But in this instance he appeared to be 
searching for something. He walked about 
slowly, stooping now and then to pick up 
small pieces of stone or earth — ^just which 
those at the table could not tell. Whatever 
they were he seemed deeply interested in 
them, as he would drop them in his coat 
pocket after scrutinizing them. 

Mr. Lake did not tarry in the vicinity of 
the cave long. Two or three minutes after 
Mrs. Anderson had discovered him, he 
walked away and disappeared over a hill, 
much to the relief of Bolivar and Inky, who 
momentarily expected him to find the 
mouth of the cave. 

When the banker had passed out of sight 
the conversation switched from him to 
some fine apple pie Mrs. Anderson was 

lOI 


BOLIVAR BROWN 


serving. Bolivar ate his piece with a relish 
and wanted more. He was too bashful to 
ask for it, however, so he laid plans to ac- 
quire another helping in another way. 
Catching Inky's eye, Bolivar attracted his 
attention below the table. This accom- 
plished, Bolivar showed Inky a rusty knife 
with one damaged blade and glanced sig- 
nificantly from it to the pie before the 
diminutive negro. Inky understood and 
accepted the knife. 

'‘Bol," he said, '^ah don't want no pie 
terday. Yo eat ma piece." 

The pie was passed and Bolivar devomed 
it. All then arose from the table, and 
Bolivar, after receiving an invitation from 
Mrs. Anderson to ''jes come ergin any ole 
time," left for the cave, accompanied by 
Inky. The boys held a consultation and 
decided that John Lake had not discovered 
the entrance to their rendezvous. In this, 
however, they were mistaken, as subsequent 
events proved. They crawled into the cave 
and sat down for a little parley. 


105 


BOLIVAR BROWN 


^*Say, Bol,’’ said Inky, ''what yo' reckon 
ole man Lake wanted ’round heah? He 
wus actin’ mighty suspicious.” 

''I dunno, Inky,” Bolivar replied, after a 
moment of thought. 

"He knows we got er cabe.” 

"Yes, but I don’t b’lieve he knows where 
it is.” 

"Mebbe he’s gwine ter try to run us out 
of heah.” 

"Mebbe! But he can’t do it. I’ll get 
Uncle Ezra Fox on our side. He’ll help 
us.” 

The boys discussed the banker awhile 
longer and then crawled out of the cave. 
As they moved away Bolivar asked: 

"Inky, where you goin’ this evenin’?” 

"No place.” 

"How ’bout playin’ a little tick-tack?” 

"Fine!” 

"All right, we’ll do it. I’ll get Skeets an’ 
one or two of the other boys an’ we’ll have 
some fim.” 

On his way home Bolivar discovered 
8 103 


BOLIVAR BROWN 


Skeets undergoing punishment for the 
church episode. He was a prisoner in the 
yard of his home by edict of his father. 
Bolivar told Skeets of the plan for tick-tack 
and the latter agreed to slip away after 
supper and join the others in the prank. 
The Square was agreed on as the meeting 
place. 

''Vll be there/’ said Skeets. ''This here 
jail sentence only lasts until six o’clock.” 

Little did the boys suspect that events 
were to transpire that night that would 
have a bearing on the lives of several 
people, among them the stranger and Millie 
Brewster. 


IX 


B olivar amved at home about four 
o'clock. When he entered the sitting 
room he found his father reading a news- 
paper and Kit deeply engrossed in a book 
which he closed with a bang as he saw his 
brother. Bolivar was surprised and dis- 
turbed to find his father at home. Usually 
Doctor and Mrs. Brown went for a drive on 
Simday afternoons. Nevertheless, the boy 
put on a bold front and started for the 
stairs, hoping to escape his parents' notice. 

He might have escaped had it not been 
for Kit. The yoimger brother knew Bolivar 
had at least a lecture coming, and he 
yearned to witness his discomfort. To at- 
tract his father's attention to Bolivar, 
therefore. Kit said, Hello, Bol!" and 
settled back in his chair to view the pro- 
ceedings. Kit had not forgotten the pie 
105 


BOLIVAR BROWN 


affair. Doctor Brown lowered his paper and 
brought Bolivar to a standstill with a look. 

‘‘Bolivar/’ he began, “I am ashamed of 
you — thoroughly ashamed of you. Such 
actions in church are absolutely inexcusable. 
You have actually insulted the pastor and 
the entire congregation. I — ” 

“How ’bout Miss Chase?” interrupted 
Kit, his eyes aglow with keen enjoyment. 

“Enough, Christopher!” said Doctor 
Brown, sternly. Then he continued to 
Bolivar: “You must apologize to both 
Doctor Beggs and Miss Chase. Do you 
imderstand?” 

Bolivar nodded. 

“That is all. But stay! Here is your 
show money.” 

Doctor Brown gave Bolivar the money 
and the boy disappeared upstairs with a 
desire for revenge on his brother rankling 
in his heart. Eat grinned and chuckled in 
glee. 

Once in his room, Bolivar went to the 
bureau and took from a drawer a ball of 
io6 


BOLIVAR BROWN 


white twine and a smaller roll of hemp cord. 
These he placed on the bed while he himted 
for a nail to use in making the tick-tack. 

A tick-tack, such as Missouri boys use to 
torment their neighbors, is a contrivance 
by which they make a nail, or other small 
hard object, strike against a window pane 
or shutter by pulling a string from a hiding 
place near by. Bolivar located the nail in 
Kit’s drawer and sat down on the bed to rig 
up the contrivance. 

As he worked away Bolivar’s thoughts 
turned to Kit and the mean way the latter 
had acted a few minutes before. He tried to 
invent some scheme for revenge and finally 
hit on one. Stepping to the door he called: 
“Oh, Kit!” 

“What you want?” came the reply. 

“ Come up a minute. Want to see you.” 

Kit closed his book and quickly ascended 
the stairs. 

“How’d you like to have some fun to- 
night?” asked Bolivar. 

“That ’u’d be great.” 

107 


BOLIVAR BROWN 


''We’re goin’ to play tick-tack. Want to 
go along?” 

"You bet! Who you goin’ to skeer?” 

"Oh, Miss Ann Eliza Chase, I guess, an’ 
most likely ole man Lake. Be at the comer 
of the Square at eight-thirty.” 

"I sure will. Thanks, Boll” And, whis- 
tling a tune. Kit retiuned to the sitting room 
and resumed the reading of his book. 

Bolivar met Skeets in front of the Wilson 
home about seven o’clock. As they exam- 
ined the tick-tack apparatus they formed 
their plans for the evening’s proceedings. 
It was decided that the peace of Miss Chase 
should be distiurbed first, after which Banker 
Lake’s residence should be the scene of ac- 
tion. The mention of Mr. Lake’s name re- 
minded Skeets of something he had intended 
to tell Bolivar. 

"Say, Bol,” he said, "a stranger come up 
to our fence to-day while I was a prisoner 
an’ asked me where Mr. Lake lived.” 

"Did he give any reason for wantin’ to 
know?” 

io8 


BOLIVAR BROWN 


^^No. I showed him the Lake house an^ 
he thanked me an* went away. The funny 
part was, he didn’t go toward Lake’s, but 
walked up past Inky’s house an’ on south, 
out of town, I guess.” 

''That’s funny,” was Bolivar’s com- 
ment. "Why didn’t you holler an’ tell him 
he was goin’ the wrong way, just to see 
what he’d say ? ” 

"I did. He said he didn’t want to see 
Mr. Lake just then, but would take a 
walk an’ come back later. That was 
about five o’clock. I forgot to tell you 
before.” 

" Must be some feller who wants to borrer 
money,” said Bolivar. "He acted sort o’ 
queer, though.” 

"He sure did. What you reckon he 
wanted of Lake, providin’ he didn’t want 
to borrer money? People don’t ginrully 
borrer money on Sunday.” 

"From your story he didn’t act like he 
wanted to see him.” 

"Well, anyway, he wanted to see the 


BOLIVAR BROWN 


house, an’ he wasn’t out sightseein’, neither. 
I don’t understand it all.” 

‘‘Me neither!” 

Bolivar did not mention his previous 
meetings with a stranger, but he concluded 
the two men were one and the same. He 
felt that an explanation of the man’s actions 
would come some day ; since the visitor had 
treated him with the utmost considera- 
tion, he resolved not to start gossip about 
him. 

It had grown dark enough for the boys 
to think of moving on their prey, and Bohvar 
and Skeets went to the comer of the Square. 
There they found Kit, enthusiastic over the 
fun in prospect, and it wasn’t long until 
Inky came up. 

Next to the home of Ann Eliza Chase 
was a vacant lot covered with high weeds. 
To this the four boys went. In the weeds 
they found a hiding place where they would 
be screened from the view of people passing 
along the sidewalk. Arriving at the lot, 
Skeets asked: 


no 


BOLIVAR BROWN 


‘‘Who’s goin’ to be the fixers, Bol?” 

“Let me an’ Kit fix this one an’ you an’ 
Inky can fix the one on Lake’s house.’’ 

It was thus arranged and, as Bolivar and 
Kit crept toward Miss Chase’s window an 
idea flashed across the mind of the former. 
He had originally intended to gain revenge 
on Kit by tying him to Miss Chase’s front 
door, attracting her attention and running, 
but he changed his mind and resolved to 
use another method. At the comer of the 
house he waited for Kit, who was a couple 
of yards in the rear. 

“Kit,’’ he said, “I just been figgerin’. 
Had we better put it on here or ’roimd at 
the side winder?’’ 

“WTiatever you think,” replied Kit. 

“Well, I reckon ’round at the side would 
be better. You stay here an’ I’ll go fix it. 
Loan me your hat.” 

“What for?” 

“I want it to wave at the fellers. They 
can see a straw hat fine — ^much better ’n my 
cap. 


Ill 


BOLIVAR BROWN 

Without further ado Kit handed his new 
straw hat over to his brother, who then 
crept around the house. All was still for a 
brief period, during which Kit waited un- 
easily for the return of Bolivar. The 
younger boy was on the verge of re- 
turning to the weeds without his brother 
when Bolivar came nmning aroimd the 
house. 

Hi, Kit!” he whispered. ^^Run! Here 
she comes!” 

Sure enough! The front door flew open 
and Miss Chase, broom in hand, emerged. 
The boys ran to the weeds while the old 
maid hurried around to the side window. 
Reaching the hiding place, Bolivar and Kit 
dropped beside Inky and Sheets. 

''What 'd you do to get her out?” asked 
Sheets. 

"Dam it! I must ’a’ slipped ag’i'n the 
winder. Gee! but that was a narrow 
escape!” 

The boys watched Miss Chase in the 
light coming from the window. Suddenly 

II2 


BOLIVAR BROWN 

Kit remembered his hat and asked Bolivar 
for it. 

''My head feels fimny without it,” he 
explained. 

"Your hat?” exclaimed Bolivar, feigning 
surprise and agitation. "Why, blamed if I 
didn’t drop it! We’ll have to go back after 
it.” 

"Where’d you drop it?” asked Kit. 
"Right imder the winder.” 

"Yo’all ain’t gwine ter git no hat back 
ter-night,” said Inky. "Miss Chase done 
got it, sho.” 

The old maid had returned to the house 
and Bolivar and Kit again crept forward. 
A careful search failed to locate the hat, and 
they soon returned to the weeds. 

"What am I goin’ to do, Bol?” asked Kit. 
"That’s my new straw.” 

"Here, wear my cap.” 

Kit took the cap and started away. 
"Where you goin’?” asked Skeets. 
"Home!” 

"What for?” 

1 13 


BOLIVAR BROWN 


‘'I got plenty for to-night.’* And Kit 
continued on his way in rather a doubtful 
state of mind. 

“Don’t stop him,” whispered Bolivar. 
Then aloud: “Come on, fellers! Now for 
Lake’s home!” 

Bolivar didn’t mind his bareheaded state. 
On the contrary, he was glad of it, for, 
though Kit had his cap. Miss Chase had 
Kit’s straw hat, and he knew she would 
ascertain whose it was. She could readily 
do that, since the hat bore the mark of 
Hezekiah Pickwick’s store and he could 
easily tell to whom it was sold. Bolivar 
grinned as he felt he would be fully revenged 
on Kit for the latter’s treatment of him. 

“Say, Bol,” asked Skeets as the boys 
walked toward the Lake residence, “what 
did you have his hat for? ” 

“Flies was bad!” chuckled Bolivar. 
“How come yo’ ter drap it?” asked 
Inky. 

“Reckon it must ’a’ slipped from my 

„ It 

grip. 


BOLIVAR BROWN 


done figgahed it out diffrunt,’' said 
Inky. ‘'Yo’ drapped dat hat on pu'pus.'' 

confessed Bolivar, ^‘Kit ain't 
been treatin' me exactly right an' proper 
lately, an' I figgered I’d have to break even 
with him." 

''You sho has did it," came from the 
little negro. "Miss Chase ull get him to- 
morrer an' mebbe ter-night." 

"Well," said Skeets, "if he deserved it 
he should 'a' got it. Bol prob'ly never give 
him more 'n he should 'a' had. Won't he 
squeal on us, Bol?" 

"Can't, can he? He was in it, too." 

"That's so, but he might tell, anyway." 

It wasn't far to the Lake home and in a 
short time the boys were there. They sat 
down on the sidewalk to confer as to the 
best way to work the tick-tack. The house, 
considered the town's finest, was bmlt 
after the style of the old Southern planta- 
tion home. It was a square, white, two- 
story structure with a wide veranda on 
three sides. From the roof of the porch 
115 


BOLIVAR BROWN 


hung vines which attached themselves to 
the pillars and formed a network arotmd the 
veranda. These, the boys agreed, would 
be in their way, so it was arranged to put 
the tick-tack on the back window where it 
could be worked from the barn. Skeets 
was selected to be fixer,'’ and the boys 
made their way noiselessly to the stable. 
The moon was shining brightly, making it 
almost as light as day, and the square house 
stood out like a big, white tombstone. 

At the door of the barn the trio stopped. 
Skeets took the end of the string and crept 
toward the house. Inky and Bolivar en- 
tered the stable and paid out the twine. 
On account of the moonlight, Skeets was 
very careful. He dodged from bush to bush 
and finally to a tree, a large oak, twenty 
feet from the house. There he paused to 
listen for sounds that might indicate he 
had been discovered. Hearing none, he 
crept on. Suddenly he was brought to a 
halt by the appearance of a light in the 
kitchen. It was not the steady glare of a 

ii6 


BOLIVAR BROWN 


lamp; it was a flickering light such as the 
flame of a match might make. 

Skeets looked on the light with suspicion 
and started back to the bam to await de- 
velopments. At that juncture there was a 
rattle from the latch on the kitchen door 
and he broke into a nm. As he sprang 
through the bam door two men came out 
of the kitchen. 

At first the boys could not see their faces 
plainly enough to recognize them, but as 
they drew nearer it was seen that one who 
was smoking a cigar was John Lake. The 
other was recognized by both Skeets and 
Bolivar. He was the stranger each had 
come in contact with. The two men con- 
tinued on their way toward the bam and 
the boys looked for an avenue of escape. 

''We canT get out,” whispered Bolivar. 
" Come on — f oiler me ! ” 

Bolivar sprang lightly up the perpen- 
dicular ladder into the hayloft and Skeets 
and Inky followed. All three lay down on 
the floor with their heads just far enough 
117 


BOLIVAR BROWN 


over the hole to give them a clear view of 
the bam below. The men stepped through 
the door and leaned against the side of a 
stall. Continuing a conversation evidently 
begun before they left the house, the 
stranger said: 

*‘John, it's mine rightfully and you 
know it." 

"I don't know anything of the kind," 
returned the banker. '‘Jim, you have no 
right to come here and demand money from 
me. You know I offered you a hundred in 
St. Joe and what did you try to do? You 
tried to kill me." 

“I tried to kill you," said the stranger, in 
a surprised tone. "Oh, I did, did I? You 
didn't attempt to pull your gun on me, 
did you?" 

"Oh, well, I didn't intend to shoot you. 
You know that." 

"I didn't know it. And when I knocked 
you down you told the police you had been 
assaulted." 

"I didn't give them your name." 

ii8 


BOLIVAR BROWN 


''No, of cotirse you didn't. You knew 
that if I was arrested I might tell them too 
much about you." 

"Well, Jim," said the banker, in a tone of 
pacification, "let's not talk that way. 
Brothers shouldn't quarrel." 

"All right! I didn't get hurt in the St. 
Joe fight. I'm willing to forget it. But I 
want my money." 

"You have no right to any." 

"Let's reckon back a bit, John. How 
long was I in the penitentiary?" 

"Ten years, wasn't it?" 

"About that. Why did I go there?" 

"Oh, come now, Jim!" said the banker, 
exasperated. "Don't ring in that old 
story." 

"Yes, I will ring it in, too. I went there 
for what was called fraudulent banking. 
You didn't go because I took the blame — a 
blame that wasn't mine to the slightest de- 
gree. I served the sentence and you were 
exonerated. Mother died seven years ago 
and left at least four thousand dollars to 

119 


9 


BOLIVAR BROWN 


you and me. She knew I had committed 
no crime. She also knew you thought you 
cotild win when you speculated with that 
fifty thousand dollars. She wrote me about 
her money four days before she died. Now, 
John, you may have the interest, but I 
want my two thousand.” 

^ ‘ I ’ ve got no two thousand for you. What 
made you come to this town, anyway?” 

“I want my money and I’m going to get 
it. Then I’m going away.” 

^‘I thought possibly you came here to 
see Millie.” 

'‘I did and I have seen her. She never 
knew where I was.” 

''So you’ve seen her, eh?” mused the 
banker. Then he hardened his tone. 

"Jim,” he said, "you’ll get no two thou- 
sand out of me. If you don’t get out of 
town I’ll tell Millie about your penitentiary 
record.” 

The stranger laughed quietly. "I’ve 
done that, John,” he said. 

"And she still cares?” 


120 


BOLIVAR BROWN 


The stranger shook his head slowly. 
^'No, she has cast me out of her life.” 

'‘What did you tell her for?” 

"It was only fair that she know.” 

"Fair? Humph! You’re too honest, Jim.” 
The banker drew a bill from his pocket and 
offered it to his brother. "Here’s a twenty 
for you, Jim,” he said. "Take it and light 
out.” 

The other man did not reply for a mo- 
ment and the silence seemed intense to the 
boys. When he did speak it was in a tone 
of determination. 

"John Lake,” he said, "you’re a con- 
temptible sneak. It may not be too late 
to let you see the inside of a penitentiary. 
A man who will beat his own brother out 
of money left him by his dead mother de- 
serves a prison cell.” 

"So you think it isn’t too late?” sneered 
the banker. 

"That’s what I do and, mark my words, 
to-morrow you may not be so willing to 
turn me down.” 


I2I 


BOLIVAR BROWN 


“What will you do?” 

“I could swear you accepted poor old 
Mrs. Link’s one thousand dollars deposit 
after you knew the bank had gone higher 
than a kite.” 

“Pooh, Jim! You’re talking nonsense. 
What effect would the sworn statement of 
an ex-convict have on the reputation of a 
reputable banker like myself ? People would 
laugh at you. Y ou’d better take this twenty 
and go. It’s all I’ve got for you.” 

And again the banker offered the bill. 


X 


T he stranger walked to the door and 
looked toward the house. Returning 
to the banker’s side, he said, in a modulated 
tone: 

'‘John, you have a fine home.” 

"Pretty fair!” replied Mr. Lake, com- 
placently. 

"You have a fortime.” 

"Yes, I’m pretty well fixed.” 

"You married Helen Bailey.” 

"Yes.” 

"She knows about me and believes me 
guilty, I presume.” 

"Yes, but don’t worry about that. She 
won’t ever mention it.” 

The stranger was silent. Evidently he 
was dreaming of other days. 

"Any children?” he finally asked. 

123 


BOLIVAR BROWN 


^‘One— a givl^ 

Another pause and then the stranger 
said, firmly, ‘'John, suppose Helen and the 
little girl should hear the truth about our 
case?” 

"They wouldn’t believe it.” 

"Well, suppose Helen should learn the 
truth about the disappearance of old man 
Kane, who had all that money in your 
bank?” 

The words were hardly out of the stran- 
ger’s mouth before the banker almost 
shrieked: "What! Would you accuse me 
of foul play? Jim Lake, I’ll kill you for 
that.” 

He sprang on his brother and a terrific 
fight for life followed. 

The banker was strong and active and 
he fought like a madman. The stranger 
was no weakling and the battle was an even 
one for a minute or more. John Lake was 
the larger, but he did not possess the staying 
powers, and after a brief session he began 
to tire. Soon the brothers went down, with 
124 


BOLIVAR BROWN 


the stranger on top. One of his hands 
clutched the banker's throat, while the 
other held John Lake's right hand, in which 
was a large clasp knife, open. 

Not a word had passed between the boys 
since the men entered the bam. Their 
excitement during the stmggle was intense, 
however, and when they saw the stranger 
had the better of the encoimter Bolivar 
whispered : 

“Good!" 

“Now, John," said the stranger between 
breaths, “you villain, you! Drop that 
knife or I'll choke you to death." 

The banker's fingers loosened and the 
weapon rolled from his hand. His brother 
snatched it, closed the blade, and dropped 
the knife in his pocket. The stranger then 
relaxed' his grip on his brother's throat 
somewhat and said: 

“John, I've got you — got you by the 
throat. I've got you so that I could kill 
you if I cared to, just as you wanted to 
kill me with that knife. Now, under the 
125 


BOLIVAR BROWN 


circumstances, don't you think you'd bet- 
ter come clean and give me my two thou- 
sand?" 

'‘I guess you have got me, Jim," replied 
the banker. ^‘Penitentiary life must have 
strengthened you. You fight like a tiger. 
But, Jim, now be sensible. You know I 
have no thousand for you. I tell you what 
I'll do. You leave town to-morrow morning 
and I’ll give you a hundred." 

“Not on your life. You're in no position 
to dictate. I want my money — the full 
amount — and I won't take one cent less. 
Now, decide what you're going to do 
quickly, as an ex-convict is apt to get nerv- 
ous and do something rash. What do you 
say?" 

John Lake had nothing to say for a mo- 
ment. Then he replied, “Jim, you get the 
money on one condition." 

“What is it?" 

“That you help me out in a little deal I 
have on." 

“What kind of a deal?" 

126 



“you villain, you! drop that knife or i’ll choke you to death 


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BOLIVAR BROWN 


''Just a business transaction. Nothing 
dishonest about it.'' 

"If it is merely that I'll do it. But/ 
before I let you up, John, answer this, Is 
the money rightfully mine?" 

"I suppose so!" And the stranger per- 
mitted his brother to get up. When John 
Lake had brushed his clothes he said, 
"Jim, about that Kane disappearance, 
I—" 

"Forget it, John!" said the stranger. 
"Treat me right and we'll drop the matter 
forever." 

"I’ll do it." 

Something besides the fear of death evi- 
dently had helped change the banker's atti- 
tude toward his brother. His manner was 
now extremely friendly. 

"You see, Jim," he said, "there's a piece 
of land I want to buy and I want it cheap. 
It is valuable to me, but not to the present 
owners. The deal I mentioned concerns 
this land. I want you to buy it for me. 
If I went after it myself it woiild cause 
127 


BOLIVAR BROWN 


talk, and in the end cost me a lot more 
than you could buy it for.’" 
see.” 

^'I’ll pay you the two thousand to-night, 
and to-morrow you buy the land for me as 
Mr. Locke. Is it a go?” 

'‘Siu*e!” And the two men stepped 
through the door and moved toward the 
house. 

The boys waited in the hayloft until they 
heard the kitchen door close, and then 
quietly slipped down the ladder and out of 
the bam. Via the alley they started for 
the corner of the Square. 

^‘Fellers,” said Bolivar as they sat down 
on the sidewalk, ^'that was mighty peculiar 
doin's to me. I ain't quite clear on it yet.” 

^*I was mighty glad to see that feller get 
the tiunble on Lake,” said Skeets. “Gee! 
but he did some scrappin'l” 

“He sho did,” said Inky. 

“How 'bout that penitentiary talk, Bol?” 
said Skeets. 

“That stranger's been in the pen,” re- 
128 


BOLIVAR BROWN 


plied Bolivar, ^‘an, ’cordin’ to his line of 
talk, Mr. Lake should ’a’ been there, instid 
of him.” 

''What ground do you s’pose he wants to 
buy?” came from Skeets. 

"Dunno!” Then a thought struck Boli- 
var. "Say, Inky,” he continued, "you 
’member how Mr. Lake was prowlin’ ’round 
the cave?” 

" Mabbe he wants the land ’round there.” 

"What for? It ain’t no ’count,” said 
Skeets. 

That was a poser. "Well, fellers,” said 
Bolivar. "I think we got wise to a little 
too much to-night. Le’s all promise that 
mum’s the word for a while.” 

The boys promised and started for their 
homes. After they had separated Bolivar 
walked slowly along, turning over in his 
mind the happenings of the evening. He 
decided that the banker was a scotmdrel 
and that the stranger, although an ex- 
convict, was a square man. He also de- 
cided he was glad the banker had come out 
129 


BOLIVAR BROWN 


second best in the struggle. In fact, the 
boy saw in the ex-convict much he admired. 

Bolivar wondered if the surmise about 
the banker's desire to get hold of the land 
in the vicinity of the cave was correct. 

got a hunch it is," he murmured to 
himself. ^‘But why he should want it I 
can't understand. I think I'll ask Uncle 
Ezra Fox what he thinks. He can keep a 
secret." 

On reaching his home Bolivar went to the 
bam and set a couple of steel traps for an 
animal, supposed to be a weasel, that had 
been killing his mother's chickens. After 
that he crept in the back way and slipped 
quietly up the stairs to his room. Kit 
already was in bed and asleep. Bolivar 
took his place beside him and knew nothing 
more until awakened by his brother in the 
morning as Kit answered the call of their 
mother. 

At the soimd of Mrs. Brown’s voice Kit 
sprang out of bed, and was half dressed 
before Bolivar was fully awake. By the 

130 


BOLIVAR BROWN 


time the older lad had begun to pull on his 
clothes Kit was ready to descend the stairs. 
Suddenly the latter saw a white straw hat 
on a chair and, picking it up, he examined it. 
A smile spread over his face as he said: 

‘‘Why, Bol, here's my hat. Where did 
you find it?" 

Bolivar was surprised. “Where's your 
hat? " he asked. 

“Here!" 

“Get out! That's mine. Leave it be!" 
And Bolivar went on dressing. 

“It is not yours. Look at it." 

When Doctor Brown purchased hats for 
the boys he usually bought two of the same 
kind. Such had been the case a week before. 
The hats looked exactly alike. Bolivar ex- 
amined the one Kit handed him and de- 
cided there was something wrong. In the 
crown could be seen plainly the two initials, 
“ C. B.," while in his own hat he had pasted 
his full name. 

“Now, ain't that mine?" demanded Kit. 

“Well, where's mine?" demanded Boli- 
13 1 


BOLIVAR BROWN 


var, fiercely. '‘This one looks like yonrs, 
but what did you do with mine?’^ 

"I ’ain't got it. Never had it.” 

"Did you go to Miss Chase’s house last 
night an’ get yours?” 

"No, I never went near her house after 
she come out.” 

"Then whose hat did you wear last 
night?” 

"Guess I must ’a’ made a mistake an’ 
wore yours.” 

"Aw, you chump! Can’t you reckerg- 
nize your own clothes? Now Miss Chase 
has got my hat instid of yours.” 

"I guess yer right, Bol. Golly! won’t she 
give it to you when she ketches you?” 
And Kit, starting for the door, cast a broad 
smile in Bolivar’s direction. 

The smile was more than Bolivar could 
stand and he helped his brother out of the 
room with his foot. 

Bolivar completed the work of dressing 
and went downstairs to breakfast. All the 
family had eaten but Kit and himself and 
132 


BOLIVAR BROWN 


he was glad of it, since he was not in the 
humor to be pleasant. As he was finishing 
his oatmeal Mrs. Brown entered the room 
with a white straw hat. She placed it on a 
chair and cast a look of stem meaning at 
Bolivar. 

Here’s your hat, my son,” she said. 
”Miss Chase sent it over to your father. 
He left word for you to go and beg her 
pardon this morning for your conduct last 
night, and also for the disturbance you 
caused in church. That is all.” 

Mrs. Brown then left the room. Bolivar 
knew his father meant every word of his 
order and that to disobey would bring 
severe punishment. Unpleasant though it 
might be, he resolved to call on the old maid 
and say something in the way of an apology, 
but he would not go alone. He would per- 
suade Skeets and Inky to accompany him. 
With their aid he was confident he could fix 
up an apology that would soothe Miss 
Chase’s injiu-ed feelings and possibly place 
all three in her good graces. After break- 
133 


BOLIVAR BROWN 


fast he went down the street seeking his 
two pals. He found them behind the old 
blacksmith shop playing marbles. 

''Where you bound for, Bol?'' asked 
Skeets. 

"Jist down the street a coupla blocks. 
You an’ Inky come on with me.” 

The other boys concluded their game and 
started away with Bolivar. 

"Gwine swimmin’?” asked Inky. 

"Nope!” replied Bolivar. " Wisht I was.” 

"Where you goin’?” asked Skeets. 

"Down to Miss Chase’s.” 

"Golly! What for — to get Kit’s hat?” 

"Nope! Coin’ to make her a talk ’bout 
bein’ sorry for what we did last night. You 
see, Kit had my hat on instid of his, an’ 
Miss Chase sent it home to-day. I got the 
blame that oughta been Kit’s for losin’ the 
hat.” 

"For you losin’ it for him,” chuckled 
Skeets. 

"Oh, well, what’s the difference? Gotta 
’pologize. Coin’ with me?” 

134 


BOLIVAR BROWN 


Both boys agreed to go. They saw an 
amusing situation ahead. At the gate of 
the Chase home Bolivar instructed his com- 
panions to let him do most of the talking, 
and then they went to the front door and 
knocked. 

Miss Chase opened the door. On seeing 
the boys she said, “WellT’ and settled 
back, leaning on her broom, to hear what 
they had to say. She knew what was 
coming and was prepared to enjoy it thor- 
oughly. Bolivar, hat in hand, opened the 
conversation. 

‘‘Good momin’. Miss Chase,'* he said. 
“We got somethin' to 'xplain to you.'' 

Again the old maid said, “Well!" 

“You see,'' the boy continued, “last 
night us three fellers made a bad mistake. 
Didn't we, boys?" 

The other two nodded. Bolivar shifted 
his weight from one leg to the other. 
“You see," he went on, “we never thought 
you was alone when we tried to put that 
tick-tack on your winder. We thought the 
10 135 


BOLIVAR BROWN 


sewin’ circle was with you or else we never 
would ’a’ tried to skeer you. We don’t go 
’round skeerin’ young ladies when they’re 
alone.” 

The old maid’s stem expression relaxed 
with the last sentence. With a smile that 
surprised her callers, she said: '‘Well, boys, 
I guess you didn’t mean any harm. I’ll 
let you off this time. But what made you 
think I had the sewin’ circle here?” 

“Bol, didn’t yer mother say it wus Miss 
Chase’s turn?” asked Skeets. 

“Oh, goodness, no!” said Miss Chase 
before Bohvar could reply. “Last night 
wasn’t meetin’ night. We^ don’t meet on 
Sunday. It’s Mrs. Taylor’s turn next an’ 
I know they expect me to come, but I 
simply hate to hear people gossiped about. 
Honestly, Mrs. Taylor is — ” But right there 
Miss Chase caught herself and stopped. 
“Well, never mind about her,” she said. 
“Wait a minute and I’ll fetch you some 
cake.” 

The old maid disappeared in the house, 
136 


BOLIVAR BROWN 


returning soon with three large pieces of 
coconut cake which she distributed among 
the boys. Bolivar next brought up the sub- 
ject of the disturbance in the chiu’ch. 

''Oh, by the way, Miss Chase,’* he said, 
"*bout that mistake I made in church. I 
never — ** 

"Never mind that!** interrupted the 
spinster, and with a primly sweet, ' ' Good-by, 
boys!** she stepped back into the house 
and closed the door. As the yoimgsters 
walked slowly along the street mimching 
cake. Inky congratidated Bolivar on his 
diplomacy. 

"Bol,** he said, "yo* suttinly done dat 
fine. Le*s tick-tack huh ergin ter-night an* 
git some mo* cake.** 

"All women can be handled if you call 
*em young er pretty,** came from Bolivar. 
"Naw, we won’t tick-tack her for a week, 
anyway.** 

Suddenly Bolivar thought of something 
else he wanted to talk about. "Say, 
fellers,” he said, "I met the new section 
137 


BOLIVAR BROWN 


foreman’s son a while ago an’ he’s goin’ to 
sell us the giant powder we need for blastin’ 
out the cave. We’ll do the work some day 
this week.” 

That afternoon Bolivar wrote a note to 
the preacher, apologizing for the disturbance 
he had caused in the church. He mailed it. 
It read as follows: 

Dear Revrind Beggs: 

I am sorry that I got fresh in church Sunday. I will 
cut it out in the future if I have to come to chiurch. 

Bol Brown. 


XI 


T wo days after the apology to Miss Chase 
the boys took up the matter of blasting 
out the cave. The section foreman’s son 
had sold Bolivar the powder, and it had been 
buried in a tin box near the cave. Bolivar 
had seen men blast in the rock quarry near 
town and felt confident he could handle the 
powder properly at the cave. Nevertheless 
he resolved to make sure that the boys all 
got far enough from the explosion to be 
safe. It required fifteen minutes of his 
time to round up Skeets, Inky, Bill, and 
Scrawney, and the four set out for the 
cave. Turning a comer a moment later, 
they ran into the stranger. He was walking 
along, striking at weeds with a stick. On 
seeing the boys he stopped, with a pleasant 
‘'Good morning!” 


139 


BOLIVAR BROWN 


The three boys who had witnessed the 
fight were interested immediately. They 
stopped, and Bolivar returned the man's 
salutation. After a trivial remark about 
the weather, the stranger asked where they 
were going. Without hesitation Bolivar 
replied that they were going to their cave 
on the river bank. 

'‘May I go along?” the man asked. 

"Sure!” An idea had come to Bolivar. 
"Do you know anything 'bout blastin', 
Mr. ?” 

"Locke is my name. Don’t know that I 
understand blasting any too well, but I 
dare say I could fire a blast. Why?” 

"We’re goin' to make our cave larger 
to-day by blastin' out some of the rock an' 
dirt an' I thought mebbe you could tell us 
'bout how much powder to use.” 

"I think I can show you something about 
it. What kind of an explosive have you?” 

"Giant powder! Bought it with money 
we earned givin' a show. It's hid near the 
cave.” 

140 


BOLIVAR BROWN 


'^Have you enough?” 

”The feller I bought it frum told me his 
father said it was enough to blow up the 
state penitentiary.” 

From the comer of his eye Bolivar 
thought he saw Locke start slightly at the 
mention of the word ' ' penitentiary . ' ’ How- 
ever, the man replied, quietly: ''Then we 
must be careful in handling it. Giant pow- 
der is dangerous.” 

After a walk of two blocks the stranger, 
pointing with his stick, said: "There’s your 
cave. Quite a place for one, isn’t it?” 

Bolivar was greatly surprised. How did 
Locke know where the cave was. He 
thought he’d find out, if possible. 

"Where, Mr. Locke?” he asked. 

"Where we see those boughs, isn’t it?” 

"How did you know that was it?” 

"Just guessed it. I was in this town 
some years ago and it is possible I may 
have heard of the cave.” 

The explanation wasn’t satisfactory, but 
Bolivar asked no more questions. At the 


BOLIVAR BROWN 


mouth of the cave all waited while Bolivar, 
with the aid of a broken shovel, unearthed 
the box containing the explosive. They 
were about to enter the cave when John 
Lake, the banker, appeared on the scene. 

''How do you do, Mr. Locke!'' he said 
to the stranger. "What's going on?" 

The stranger shook hands with the banker. 
"We're out here for a purpose which I 
presume this young man will explain if he 
wants you to know," he replied, as he placed 
a hand on Bolivar's shoulder. 

The banker, much to their surprise, 
smiled and bowed to the boys. Bolivar de- 
cided that, inasmuch as Mr. Lake had 
caught them with the mouth of the cave 
imcovered, he might as well explain. 

"This is our cave, Mr. Lake," he said. 
"We're goin' to blast it out to make it 
larger." 

"Is that so?" came from the banker, evi- 
dently keenly interested. "I'd like to see 
it done. May I?" 

"Yes, sir, if you want to." 

142 


BOLIVAR BROWN 


Thank you! I'm going over the hill a 
moment to see my rock quarry. If you'll 
defer the blasting five or ten minutes I'll 
be back." 

This would be done, Bolivar said, and 
the banker strolled away. The rock quarry 
was about a block from the cave. Locke 
and the boys entered the rendezvous, the 
man exhibiting much interest in what he 
saw. 

"Boys," he said, "you have a nice place 
here. It's furnished in great shape." Set- 
tling back in a chair with his hands clasped 
over one knee, he continued: "This cave 
is not wholly unknown to me. Would you 
like to hear a story in which it figures?" 

Bolivar said a story would be fine, and 
the boys were all attention immediately. 

"Some years ago, boys," Locke began, 
"there was a man living in a town less than 
two hundred miles from this one who was 
not always honest. He made money often 
by schemes that were off color and he be- 
came wealthy. He was not especially popu- 
143 


BOLIVAR BROWN 

lar, but his money made him powerful and 
most of his fellow townspeople were in awe 
of him, especially those who owed him. 
For years he prospered, and then reverses in 
business came. He lost all his money but a 
few thousand dollars through bad specula- 
tions and was one day compelled to begin all 
over again. His few thousand dollars were 
enough for an honest start, but he was im- 
patient and yearned for more capital. He 
knew somebody who had money and in- 
duced that person to let him have charge 
of it. It was deposited in the dishonest 
man's bank. 

‘'This man had a brother, a lad of eight- 
een or thereabouts, a sort of green boy 
who, although his home training had been 
good, had always been reckless and carefree. 
To this youth the dishonest man unfolded 
a plan to use the newly acquired money. 
He succeeded, through false promises, in 
obtaining the younger brother's aid in a 
scheme of speculation. The scheme was in 
reality a crime the enormity of which did 
144 


BOLIVAR BROWN 


not dawn on the youth when he promised 
to help. It had not proceeded far, how- 
ever, when the boy saw through it and de- 
clined to go farther. At the last moment 
the dishonest brother went it alone. 

“The scheme failed, but the dishonest 
brother left evidence that tended to show 
the younger man was responsible for the 
crime. For reasons best known to himself 
the young fellow fled, and one night he hid 
in this cave. He was captured and served 
a term in the penitentiary. I knew him 
well — and that is how I happen to know 
about it.” 

Locke stopped talking and Inky asked 
how the dishonest brother had managed to 
come through scot free. 

“Merely because the lad didn’t tell on 
him,” said Locke. 

Bolivar glanced at Skeets, but the latter 
was hard at work digging a hole in the soft 
earth with his toe. Inky had nothing 
further to say and the other boys did not 
venture any comments. 

145 


BOLIVAR BROWN 


Having finished his story, Locke asked 
Bolivar for a look at the giant powder. 
Several sticks and a piece of fuse were 
shown him and he pronounced them in 
good condition, so far as he knew. A rusty 
pick was brought into play and each of the 
boys took a turn at drilling a hole for the 
charge. Locke finally asked for the pick 
and finished the job. Locke then set the 
charge, attaching a piece of fuse to each 
stick and connecting them all up with a 
longer section of the fuse. 

The charge all set, the boys removed the 
furnishings from the cave. Bolivar then 
annotmced all was in readiness. 

'‘But,'' he said to Locke, "we told Mr. 
Lake we'd wait for him, so we better keep 
our word." 

Locke agreed, and all sat down outside 
the cave to wait. The banker's affability 
and his apparent interest in their plans were 
still in the minds of the boys. They would 
not have been surprised to see an officer of 
the law sent by Mr. Lake appear and order 
146 


BOLIVAR BROWN 


them not to blast. The banker had never 
been friendly toward them, and his change 
in attitude made them suspicion that some- 
thing besides curiosity had prompted him 
to seek permission to witness the blast. 

Mr. Lake returned promptly and Locke 
told the banker and the boys to retire to a 
point about two hundred feet from the 
cave. They did as he suggested, and the 
stranger went into the cave and touched a 
match to the fuse. A moment later he 
emerged and ran to the group. He said it 
would require about a minute’s time for 
the fuse to burn to the powder. At the 
end of that period, however, nothing had 
occurred. Five minutes more passed and 
still there was no explosion. When Locke’s 
watch showed ten minutes had elapsed the 
watchers advanced cautiously to investigate. 
Near the opening the banker called a halt. 

''Mr. Locke,” he said, "I don’t believe 
you lighted that fuse properly. I’ll give it 
another light.” 

"Better let me do it.” 

147 


BOLIVAR BROWN 


‘^No, 1*11 light it. I*m used to seeing 
blasts fired over at the quarry.** 

The banker stooped low and started into 
the cave. He stopped once to investigate 
and then continued until he was out of 
sight in the cave. Locke was about to fol- 
low when a cry from the interior of the 
cave stopped him. This was followed im- 
mediately by a loud rumbling report. The 
giant powder had exploded. 


XII 


3 the boys and Locke instinctively 



l \ moved toward the cave, after the 
explosion, Mr. Lake struggled through the 
opening and fell to the groimd, bleeding 
from several cuts on the head. Bolivar and 
Locke raised him to a sitting posture. 

'‘The powder must have been damp,’* he 
gasped. “I should have been more careful. 
Give me water!” 

Inky ran for water, and the banker 
swooned. By the time the negro boy had 
returned with the water Locke and the 
other boys had placed the injured man on 
a bed of boughs. Locke threw water in the 
banker’s face and he revived and drank. 
Locke then sent Scrawney to notify Doctor 
Dalton and to have the town hack come and 
convey Mr. Lake to his home. Bolivar and 


BOLIVAR BROWN 


the stranger bathed the injured man’s head 
and made him as comfortable as possible. 
The water served to strengthen him slightly 
and he was able to talk. 

'^Jim,” he said, addressing Locke, “I 
guess I’m done for. I’m mighty sorry, Jim, 
for it all. You’ve been a man all the way 
through. I’ve been a coward.” 

Here the banker’s voice grew husky and 
he was compelled to stop. 

Don’t let the past worry you, John,” 
replied Locke. “It’s all over now. You 
know we agreed to let bygones be by- 
gones.” 

“ I know, Jim, but I’ve treated you badly. 
I’m going to set myself right this far.” 
The banker turned his head and asked 
Bolivar, who had retired a few paces, to 
approach. 

“My boy,” he began, “I am hurt in- 
ternally and I know I’m done for. I want 
to tell you something. This Mr. Locke is 
my brother. Locke isn’t his name. He is 
James Lake. I owe him four thousand 


BOLIVAR BROWN 


Reaching the Lake property, he climbed the 
fence (no country-town boy uses a gate 
when he can climb a fence) and went to the 
side door of the house. His knock brought 
Mrs. Lake. Bolivar had his hat in his 
hand. 

''Here’s the watch,” he said, offering the 
timepiece to the widow. ''It’s purty well 
water-soaked.” 

Mrs. Lake was surprised and delighted. 
"Why, Bolivar,” she said, "I had no idea 
you could recover that watch! How did 
you do it?” 

"I dove fer it.” 

"I knew Bolivar would find it,” said 
Katie, coming up from behind. " Mamma, 
Bolivar can do almost anything.” 

Bolivar felt like a king. Katie was 
praising him; he could ask for nothing 
sweeter in the whole world. Yet he kept 
himself in good control. All he did to indi- 
cate that he was pleased was to rip a piece 
of the band from his hat and kick a bug off 
the porch. 

i8i 


BOLIVAR BROWN 


No one is responsible for this,” Mr. Lake 
whispered to the physician. ”It was my 
own fault.” 

The doctor went to his buggy for his medi- 
cine case. When he retiuned the injured 
man was dead. 

Doctor Dalton and Locke lifted the body 
into the hack and it was taken to the Lake 
home. Doctor Dalton was the coroner, 
and before leaving the scene he told the 
boys he might hold an inquest; in case he 
did, he said, they would be wanted as wit- 
nesses. Locke accompanied the doctor to 
the Lake home and broke the news to Mrs. 
Lake. 

The news of the banker's death spread 
like wildfire all over the county. Hundreds 
of people visited the scene of the accident 
and then gathered in groups about the 
Square to discuss it. Dozens asked the 
boys to describe the distressing affair, but 
they were too deeply awed to talk. They 
decided home was the place for them and 
that was where they headed for without 
152 


BOLIVAR BROWN 

delay. As Bolivar and Skeets parted the 
former said: 

''I’m sorry for him, Skeets. He wasn’t 
such a bad one, after all.” 

''I’m sorry, too,” replied Skeets. '' Wish’t 
we’d ’a’ never had a cave.” 

Bolivar told his parents frankly all about 
the accident and remained at home for the 
rest of the day. 

The banker’s death was the one topic of 
conversation in Paw Paw Corner for a week. 
When it became known that the stranger 
was a brother of the dead man people won- 
dered why it had not come out before. 
The stranger remained at the Lake home 
and assumed a general supervision over the 
affairs of his brother. The funeral was held 
on the third day after the accident. All 
the boys who had been at the cave when 
the explosion occtured attended with their 
parents. 

The day following the fimeral there was 
a little conference at the Lake home be- 
tween the stranger, who shall be known as 
153 


BOLIVAR BROWN 


^‘The stranger give it to her/' he an- 
nounced. He then put on his clothes. 

'‘Sheets," he said, “don't you tell none 
of the boys about me findin' this watch. If 
you do I’ll punch yer head.” 

“You mean we'll punch each other's 
heads,” said Sheets, with a grin. 

Bolivar started toward town. 

“Wait a minute!” yelled Sheets. “I'll 
go with you.” 

“ No, you won't 1 ” replied Bolivar. “I'm 
going to mahe a call an' I don’t need any 
help.” 

Bolivar was elated over his recovery of 
the watch and was eager to return it to 
Katie. After his parting shot at Sheets he 
brohe into a dog-trot and covered the dis- 
tance to Pichwich's store in a brief period. 
From the store to the Lahe residence he 
walhed slowly and in an unconcerned 
manner. He didn't want to appear eager 
to see Katie. He wanted it to be as though 
it were an everyday occurrence for him to 
recover a watch from the Missouri River. 
i8o 


BOLIVAR BROWN 


the bank into the river. Where his feet 
struck it was but thirty inches deep, but a 
little distance out was a step-off that would 
take him over his head. The first thing he 
did was to wet his hair. This is supposed 
to ward off colds and keep swimmers from 
having headache. 

‘‘Well, here goes!'’ he muttered. 

Bolivar climbed back onto the bank and 
jumped in head first. He was imder water 
half a minute. When he came up he tread 
water to keep his head above and, wiping 
his eyes with his hand, he swam to shore, 
using the overhand stroke, the pride of all 
Missouri River swimmers. 

Bolivar had not foimd the watch on his 
first trip in. Climbing out on the bank, he 
measiured with his eye about where the 
timepiece should have struck bottom. Just 
then Skeets came up. 

Without delay Skeets pulled off his 
clothes, kicked them back from the edge of 
the bank, and took a header into the water. 
Bolivar followed him. Skeets came up 
177 


BOLIVAR BROWN 

'‘And good-by!’' Replacing the picture in 
the wallet, he continued his walk. 

James Lake found no difficulty in as- 
I sinning the business duties of his brother. 
^ He was fairly well educated and a man of 
brains. He quietly assured people that 
the bank would be conducted just as though 
John Lake were alive, and at the same 
time he began making preparations to sell 
the interests out. 

“I don’t quite understand it all,” said 
Uncle Ezra Fox in Pickwick’s store a few 
days after the funeral. “I don’t see why 
it didn’t get noised around that John Lake 
had a brother here.” 

“Oh, rats!” said Peleg Lee. “A man 
don’t have to tell his name to everybody he 
meets. I seen this here feller around. He 
never tried to hide any more ’n to sign him- 
self ‘Locke’ on the hotel register, an’ I hear 
he done that so as to be able to s’prise 
John. The puzzle about it all is what a 
man like the banker wanted to be hangin’ 
’round to see a lot o’ boys blast fer.” 

156 


BOLIVAR BROWN 


''Yes,” chimed in Hezekiah Pickwick, 
"an' 'specially when he used to hate them 
same boys like p'ison.'' 

"Well, lemme tell you,'' said Uncle Ezra. 
"John Lake wusn't nobody's fool. He 
wusn't bangin' 'roimd with them boys out 
of idle curiosity. He didn't give a hoot 
'bout blastin', as it ginrully goes, bit he did 
care 'bout that particular blast.'' 

' ' Looky here ! ' ' came from Peleg. ' ' Ezry , 
yer a-talkin' in riddles. Quit it, now. If 
you think you know why John Lake himg 
'round with them boys, out with it.'' 

" I didn't say I knowed. They is a differ- 
ence between thinkin' you know an' knowin' 
you know. It's this — in the first case you 
know maybe, an' in the second you know 
fer sure.'' 

"Are we to figger frum that that you 
only think you know?'' asked Hezekiah. 

"You certainly are if you feel like fig- 
gerin','' said Uncle Ezra. "They ain't but 
one man alive who knows for sture what he 
was a-doin' there.” 


157 


BOLIVAR BROWN 


^‘That ain’t so much. Guess I can get it 
all right.” 

'^Oh, can you?” cried Katie, clapping 
her hands. '‘How will you do it, Bolivar? ” 

"I got a little plan worked out to get it,” 
said the boy. "You an’ yer mother go 
home an’ I’ll bring the watch to you before 
noon.” 

"Can’t we see you get it?” 

Bolivar blushed. "I gotta dive fer it,” 
he said. "The water’s eight feet deep 
where the watch went in. The bottom’s 
sandy, though, an’ the current in this eddy 
ain’t strong ’nough to take the watch fur 
from where it hit.” 

Mrs. Lake took Katie’s hand. ‘ ' Come on, 
dear, ’ ’ she said. ' ‘ If Bolivar finds the watch 
he will bring it to you. I’m afraid he won’t 
be able to recover it, though.” 

"Bet you a nickel I do,” said Bolivar, 
grinning. Mrs. Lake merely smiled at his 
confidence. 

When Bolivar was sure they were out of 
sight he quickly tmdressed and dropped off 
176 


BOLIVAR BROWN 


''I knowed it,’’ said Uncle Ezra. ^^An’ I 
knowed you was the man he fought with. 
I was sure John Lake was to blame. He 
had a good heart, but there was a lot of 
meanness surroimdin’ it. But le’s quit 
discussin’ all those old things. They’re 
bygones an’ we’ll let ’em be bygones.” 

Lake thanked the old man for his kind- 
ness and promised to be on hand at the 
meeting Tuesday. As he arose to go he 
asked : 

‘ ^ Uncle Ezra, why are you so fond of boys?” 

The old man stood holding the door open 
for his visitor’s exit. At the question a far- 
away look stole into his eyes. 

”Well,” he said, softly, had a little 
boy myself onct. I ’ain’t got him now — 
haven’t had him since he was four, but I 
’ain’t fergot him. He was with me long 
’nough to show me the good in boys.” 

Uncle Ezra’s voice dropped into a whis- 
per. ” Good-by, Mr. Lake!” he said. 
Then gently he pushed the younger man 
into the hall and closed the door. 

173 


XIII 


NCLE EZRA FOX reached his little 



u office over the drug store one morning 
not long after his tilt with Peleg and Heze- 
kiah in the store, and wrote letters to 
Bolivar Brown and James Lake. They 
requested the recipients to call at the Fox 
office one week from that day, a Tuesday. 
Bolivar's note asked him to bring along the 
boys who had been using the cave as a 
rendezvous. 

''Important business will be transacted 
at ten o'clock," the letter concluded. No 
other information was contained in it. 

"There!" said Uncle Ezra, when he had 
finished writing, "That's off my mind. 
Course, I could 'a' told 'em to drop in, but 
the letters will look more official. Those 
boys are smart ones an' I'm a-goin' to help 
'em. It's only fair they should be let in on 


i6o 


BOLIVAR BROWN 


this. With Lake an’ me a-pushin’ it, the 
propersition ought to go.” 

Having thus assured himself of his own 
satisfaction over his plan, Uncle Ezra 
leaned back in his chair, put his feet on his 
desk, and took a nap. On his way home 
two hours later he mailed the letters. 

Bolivar received his note Wednesday 
morning. It was so seldom that he received 
mail that the letter evoked eager interest., 
He read it quickly and sat down on the 
sidewalk to think it over. He couldn’t 
fathom the reason for Uncle Ezra’s inviting 
all the boys to his office. Uncle Ezra, how- 
ever, was their friend, so Bolivar was certain 
something interesting was headed their 
way. Bolivar resolved not to tell any of the 
boys but Skeets and Inky about the letter 
for several days. He wovdd see that they 
all were on hand Tuesday, though. 

He found Inky on the back porch of the 
Anderson home, making a kite. Bolivar 
showed him the letter, and together they 
speculated on the reason for it. 

i6i 


BOLIVAR BROWN 


knowed you wasn’t a criminal,” re- 
plied the old man, slowly. knowed you 
was a boy who, if he had been mixed up in 
a crime, had been led into it. I could see 
that much in your eye. I ’ain’t never turned 
down a boy that looked right to me yet, an’ 
I ain’t never goin’ to.” 

''How did you get rid of the officer?” 

''I told him a lie. I said you hadn’t been 
there an’ that I never knowed a thing ’bout 
you. I figgered it the whitest lie a man 
could tell. I wanted to see you get another 
chance an’ I was sure the Lord did, too. I 
heard that the officer got you later, but I 
never could learn where he took you. The 
first time I seen you since you come back, I 
knowed you.” 

"Uncle Ezra,” began Lake, "I hope — ” 

"Don’t worry ’bout that,” interrupted 
the old man. "I ’ain’t never told a soul 
’bout you an’ I ain’t goin’ to. Now, I want 
to ask you one more thing — did you try to 
kill John Lake in St. Joe?” 

Lake related exactly what had happened. 

172 


BOLIVAR BROWN 


'‘All IVe got to say is that I intended to 
do exactly what you propose, providing I 
could buy the land. My brother, just 
before he died, told me about the land 
and suggested that I give the boys a^square 
deal. I'm with you if the youngsters are 
in on it." 

Uncle Ezra did not reply at once. In- 
stead, he scratched a match and lighted 
his old corncob pipe. After a puff or two 
he said: 

"Lake, I always knowed yer brother had 
a heart. Then the agreement is as good as 
made?" 

"So far as I am concerned." 

"That is what I want to talk about at 
the meetin’ Tuesday. We can organize a 
kind of a stock company an' then sell out. 
There ain't big money in it — that is, no 
great big money — ^but they 'll be 'nough to 
fix those boys up with a few hundred each. 
Now, they's somethin' else I want to talk 
to you about. Can you guess it this time? " 

"I'm afraid not." 


169 


BOLIVAR BROWN 


''Ah reckon she kain’t,” replied Inky, 
elated over the cow’s predicament. "She 
sho kain’t. Golly!” he exclaimed. "Dat 
cow kin kick lef’-handed. What we gwine 
ter do, Bol?” 

Bolivar hadn’t considered the proposition 
from the double-kicking angle, but his in- 
genuity came to his aid immediately. 

"We’re goin’ to fix up that other leg, too,” 
he said. 

The cow was led out of the stall again 
and another ring was put in place. When 
the time came for fiuther efforts to milk 
her she found both her hind legs held to the 
floor by the ropes. The little negro took 
his seat on the stool again. The cow looked 
around and tossed her head in a way that 
made him nervous. 

"Bol,” he finally said, "ah doan b’lieve 
ah wants ter milk dis cow. She looks wild 
ter me.” 

"Skeered, eh?” retorted Bolivar. "You 
come hold these ropes. I’ll milk her.” 

Inky took the ropes and Bolivar sat down 
164 


BOLIVAR BROWN 


by the cow. She gave him a look, but 
Bolivar went right ahead and milked. 

The cow tried to kick first with her right 
leg and then with her left, but Inky's 
weight on the ropes held her. The milking 
proceeded and the boys were delighted at 
the cow's discomfort. 

'^Reckon we oughta hab dis scheme 
patented," said Inky. 

“Gee! don't it tickle you to see her try 
to kick?" 

“It sho do." 

The cow's efforts became more violent 
at this jimcture and Inky's feet began to 
slip. 

“Hold her!" yelled Bolivar. 

“Ah is," puffed Inky. 

With each kick the cow gained a little 
more leeway for her feet. Finally she be- 
came so violent that she toppled over 
sideways, unable to catch her balance be- 
cause of the ropes, and landed squarely on 
Bolivar. 

The boy tried to get out of the way, but 
165 


BOLIVAR BROWN 


Right you are. How come you to guess 
it?^’ 

Why, IVe seen you up that way several 
times since the explosion. I have heard, 
also, that you bought the surrounding 
ground.” 

"That bein' the case, I reckon they 
ain't much use to talk in riddles. O' course, 
you know what that explosion showed?'' 

"Yes. My brother knew what was there, 
too. He intended to buy that ground.'' 

"So I heard. Well, I didn't buy it be- 
cause I wanted to make money out of it — 
for myself. But I do want to make some 
for a lot o' my friends an' I want you to go 
in on it an' help me.'' 

"You mean Bolivar Brown and his 
companions.” 

"Lake, yer a dandy guesser. That's my 
idea exactly. I don't mind if you and me 
make a little money, but I want those boys 
to get in on it. I'm getting old an' have got 
aplenty. Yer well fixed enough, I reckon. 
What do you say?” 


i68 


XIV 


U NCLE EZRA FOX met James Lake 
on the street the next day. 

''I received your letter, Mr. Fox,” said 
Lake. 

” Don’t call me that, please,” said Uncle 
Ezra. ”I ain’t used to it.” Lake saw the 
point. 

''All right. Uncle Ezra,” he said. 

"That’s better. Now, ’bout that letter. 
I wish you’d step into my office a minute or 
two, if you got the time.” 

Lake had the time and accompanied 
Uncle Ezra to the office. Uncle Ezra closed 
the door, and both men took chairs. 

"Don’t s’pose you could guess what I 
want to discuss with you,” said the old 
man. 

" My guess is the cave on the river bank,’" 
said Lake, promptly. 

167 


12 


BOLIVAR BROWN 


‘‘Right you are. How come you to guess 
it?’^ 

“Why, Fve seen you up that way several 
times since the explosion. I have heard, 
also, that you bought the surrounding 
ground.’' 

“That bein’ the case, I reckon they 
ain’t much use to talk in riddles. O’ course, 
you know what that explosion showed?’’ 

“Yes. My brother knew what was there, 
too. He intended to buy that grotmd.’’ 

“So I heard. Well, I didn’t buy it be- 
cause I wanted to make money out of it — 
for myself. But I do want to make some 
for a lot o’ my friends an’ I want you to go 
in on it an’ help me.’’ 

“You mean Bolivar Brown and his 
companions.’’ 

“Lake, yer a dandy guesser. That’s my 
idea exactly. I don’t mind if you and me 
make a little money, but I want those boys 
to get in on it. I’m getting old an’ have got 
aplenty. Yer well fixed enough, I reckon. 
What do you say?’’ 


i68 


BOLIVAR BROWN 


^^All I’ve got to say is that I intended to 
do exactly what you propose, providing I 
could buy the land. My brother, just 
before he died, told me about the land 
and suggested that I give the boys a 'square 
deal. I’m with you if the yoimgsters are 
in on it.” 

Uncle Ezra did not reply at once. In- 
stead, he scratched a match and lighted 
his old corncob pipe. After a puff or two 
he said: 

^^Lake, I always knowed yer brother had 
a heart. Then the agreement is as good as 
made?” 

'‘So far as I am concerned.” 

"That is what I want to talk about at 
the meetin’ Tuesday. We can organize a 
kind of a stock company an’ then sell out. 
There ain’t big money in it — that is, no 
great big money — ^but they ’ll be ’nough to 
fix those boys up with a few himdred each. 
Now, they’s somethin’ else I want to talk 
to you about. Can you guess it this time? ” 

"I’m afraid not.” 


169 


BOLIVAR BROWN 


hardly thought you could. IVe got 
gray since it happened an’ my beard has 
growed.” 

Lake didn’t imderstand what the old man 
was driving at. A moment later, however, 
he started slightly in his chair when Uncle 
Ezra said: 

“You was here some years ago, wasn’t 
you?” 

“I was. Why?” came from Lake. 

“Do you recollect one night a pore, hun- 
gry young feller went to a kitchen door in 
this town ’bout eight o’clock an’ asked for 
a bit to eat? ” Lake coughed and was about 
to reply. 

“Wait now!” said Uncle Ezra, quickly. 
“I ain’t near through yet. It was you, all 
right. You recollect how you was given 
some food from an old cupboard? Then do 
you recollect how, when you’d quit eatin’, 
there come a knock at the door an’ a man 
who said he was a officer of the law tried to 
get some information ’bout a young feller 
who was wanted for peculiar bank dealin’? ” 
170 


BOLIVAR BROWN 


Lake had leaned forward with his hands 
on his knees. Two big tears came slowly 
down his cheeks. 

Do I? he said, his voice slightly choked 
with emotion. ''I should say I do. It was 
you who helped me, Uncle Ezra. It was 
you — I know you now. Often since I've 
been here I've wondered where that little 
house stood and who that man was. He 
had the biggest heart I ever knew a human 
to have. It was you. Uncle Ezra, and that 
heart is still there, bigger than ever." 

Here the younger man covered his face 
with his hands and remained silent a 
moment. 

"But that's not all I recollect," he went 
on. "I see in my mind right now that man 
handing me three ten-dollar bills. I hear 
him telling me where the cave — the same 
one we have been discussing — ^was. I see 
him letting me out the back door and I hear 
him saying: ^Good-by, young fellow. God 
bless you!' Uncle Ezra, let me ask you, 
why did you do it for me? Why? " 


BOLIVAR BROWN 


knowed you wasn't a criminal," re- 
plied the old man, slowly. ''I knowed you 
was a boy who, if he had been mixed up in 
a crime, had been led into it. I could see 
that much in your eye. I ’ain't never turned 
down a boy that looked right to me yet, an' 
I ain't never goin' to.” 

''How did you get rid of the officer?” 

''I told him a lie. I said you hadn't been 
there an' that I never knowed a thing 'bout 
you. I figgered it the whitest lie a man 
could tell. I wanted to see you get another 
chance an' I was sure the Lord did, too. I 
heard that the officer got you later, but I 
never could learn where he took you. The 
first time I seen you since you come back, I 
knowed you.” 

"Uncle Ezra,” began Lake, "I hope — ” 

"Don't worry 'bout that,” interrupted 
the old man. "I 'ain't never told a soul 
'bout you an' I ain't goin' to. Now, I want 
to ask you one more thing — did you try to 
kill John Lake in St. Joe?” 

Lake related exactly what had happened. 

172 


BOLIVAR BROWN 


''I knowed it,” said Uncle Ezra. I 

knowed you was the man he fought with. 
I was siure John Lake was to blame. He 
had a good heart, but there was a lot of 
meanness surroundin’ it. But le’s quit 
discussin’ all those old things. They’re 
bygones an’ we’ll let ’em be bygones.” 

Lake thanked the old man for his kind- 
ness and promised to be on hand at the 
meeting Tuesday. As he arose to go he 
asked: 

' ' Uncle Ezra, why are you so fond of boys?” 

The old man stood holding the door open 
for his visitor’s exit. At the question a far- 
away look stole into his eyes. 

”Well,” he said, softly, ”I had a little 
boy myself onct. I ’ain’t got him now — 
haven’t had him since he was four, but I 
’ain’t fergot him. He was with me long 
’nough to show me the good in boys.” 

Uncle Ezra’s voice dropped into a whis- 
per. ” Good-by, Mr. Lake!” he said. 
Then gently he pushed the younger man 
into the hall and closed the door. 

173 


XV 


N Friday morning Bolivar started for 



the river to have a swim, expecting 
to find some of his friends there. Swim- 
ming isn’t much fun for a boy when he is 
alone. He likes to have witnesses for his 
skill. Finding nobody at the stump, as one 
swimming place was known, Bolivar walked 
along the bank to the eddy, another place. 
As he neared this one he saw a woman, 
dressed in black, and a little girl standing 
near the water. The little girl procured a 
stick and tried to poke the water. Drawing 
near, Bolivar discovered the woman was 
the widow of Banker Lake and the little 
girl her daughter. He surmised something 
was wrong. Had Katie Lake not been there 
Bolivar would have found it easy to ap- 
proach the widow and ask what the trouble 


BOLIVAR BROWN 


was. But Bolivar liked Katie and was very 
bashful. So he sat down on the grass fifty 
feet from them and waited. Soon Katie 
noticed him. 

^'Oh, Bolivar!’' she called. ''Come here, 
please.” 

What could he do but respond. Rolling 
his sleeves down, he approached them, hat 
in hand. 

"Bolivar,” said Katie, "I dropped my 
watch in the river while mamma and I 
were out walking. I was swinging it by the 
chain. How can I get it back?” 

"That’s a pretty hard question for a 
little boy, isn’t it?” said Mrs. Lake, smiling 
at Bolivar. "I’m afraid you can’t answer 
it.” 

Bolivar dug his toe into the earth. He 
was secretly delighted. Here was a chance 
to perform a service for Katie Lake, the 
girl he considered the sweetest in the whole 
world. 

"How fur out did it go?” he asked. 

"About six feet,” responded Mrs. Lake. 
175 


BOLIVAR BROWN 


^‘That ain’t so much. Guess I can get it 
all right.” 

^‘Oh, can you?” cried Katie, clapping 
her hands. How will you do it, Bolivar? ” 
got a little plan worked out to get it,” 
said the boy. ''You an’ yer mother go 
home an’ I’ll bring the watch to you before 
noon.” 

"Can’t we see you get it?” 

Bolivar blushed. "I gotta dive fer it,” 
he said. "The water’s eight feet deep 
where the watch went in. The bottom’s 
sandy, though, an’ the current in this eddy 
ain’t strong ’nough to take the watch fur 
from where it hit.” 

Mrs. Lake took Katie’s hand. ' ' Come on, 
dear, ’ ’ she said. ' ' If Bolivar finds the watch 
he will bring it to you. I’m afraid he won’t 
be able to recover it, though.” 

"Bet you a nickel I do,” said Bolivar, 
grinning. Mrs. Lake merely smiled at his 
confidence. 

When Bolivar was sure they were out of 
sight he quickly undressed and dropped off 
176 


BOLIVAR BROWN 


the bank into the river. Where his feet 
struck it was but thirty inches deep, but a 
little distance out was a step-off that would 
take him over his head. The first thing he 
did was to wet his hair. This is supposed 
to ward off colds and keep swimmers from 
having headache. 

^^Well, here goes!'’ he muttered. 

Bolivar climbed back onto the bank and 
jumped in head first. He was under water 
half a minute. When he came up he tread 
water to keep his head above and, wiping 
his eyes with his hand, he swam to shore, 
using the overhand stroke, the pride of all 
Missouri River swimmers. 

Bolivar had not foimd the watch on his 
first trip in. Climbing out on the bank, he 
measured with his eye about where the 
timepiece should have struck bottom. Just 
then Skeets came up. 

Without delay Skeets pulled off his 
clothes, kicked them back from the edge of 
the bank, and took a header into the water. 
Bolivar followed him. Skeets came up 
177 


BOLIVAR BROWN 


quickly and noticed his pal was still under- 
water. ] Half a minute passed and Bolivar 
had not appeared. Ten seconds later he 
came up and shook the water from his eyes 
and ears. Sheets was swimming about 
slowly. 

'‘What you stayin’ under fer, Bol?” he 
asked. 

“Jest fer fun!” Then he changed his 
mind and decided to tell Sheets the truth. 
“I’m lookin’ fer a watch that was dropped 
in the water.” 

“Whose?” 

“None of yer business!” 

“Come on, Bol! Tell me.” 

“I will if you’ll keep it secret.” 

“I will.” 

“It’s Katie Lake’s. She was out walkin’ 
an’ dropped it in here.” 

Sheets was on the bank by that time. 
“ I’ll get it,” he yelled. Then he dove. Bol- 
ivar made a grab and caught him by one 
leg. They fell into the water together. 
They struggled out again and Sheets 
178 


BOLIVAR BROWN 

growled: *‘Dani you! What made you 
grab me?’' 

'‘Don’t go huntin’ fer that watch,” 
ordered BoHvar. “If you do I’ll beat you 
to death.” 

Sheets saw the point and grinned. “All 
right,” he said. “ Go on an’ dive fer it.” 

Once more Bolivar leaped head foremost 
into the water. This time he was under 
only about fifteen seconds. When he reap- 
peared he held a small gold watch in his 
mouth. He climbed out on the grass and 
examined it. 

“Ain’t it a dandy?” he said. 

“You bet!” 

BoUvar took his shirt and wiped the 
watch. “’Tain’t runnin’,” he said, after 
holding the timepiece to his ear. “I’m 
goin’ to look inside.” 

He opened the watch and found an in- 
scription which read: 

TO KATIE 
From Her Uncle, 

James Lake 


BOLIVAR BROWN 


''The stranger give it to her/’ he an- 
nounced. He then put on his clothes. 

"Sheets/’ he said, "don’t you tell none 
of the boys about me findin’ this watch. If 
you do I’ll punch yer head.” 

"You mean we’ll punch each other’s 
heads,” said Sheets, with a grin. 

Bolivar started toward town. 

"Wait a minute!” yelled Sheets. "I’ll 
go with you.” 

"No, you won’t 1 ” replied Bolivar. " I’m 
going to mahe a call an’ I don’t need any 
help.” 

Bolivar was elated over his recovery of 
the watch and was eager to return it to 
Katie. After his parting shot at Sheets he 
brohe into a dog-trot and covered the dis- 
tance to Pichwich’s store in a brief period. 
From the store to the Lahe residence he 
walhed slowly and in an unconcerned 
manner. He didn’t want to appear eager 
to see Katie. He wanted it to be as though 
it were an everyday occurrence for him to 
recover a watch from the Missouri River. 
i8o 


BOLIVAR BROWN 

Reaching the Lake property, he climbed the 
fence (no country-town boy uses a gate 
when he can climb a fence) and went to the 
side door of the house. His knock brought 
Mrs. Lake. Bolivar had his hat in his 
hand. 

''Here's the watch," he said, offering the 
timepiece to the widow. "It’s piuty well 
water-soaked." 

Mrs. Lake was surprised and delighted. 
"Why, Bolivar," she said, "I had no idea 
you could recover that watch! How did 
you dp it?" 

"I dove fer it." 

"I knew Bolivar would find it," said 
Katie, coming up from behind. "Mamma, 
Bolivar can do almost anything." 

Bolivar felt like a king. Katie was 
praising him; he could ask for nothing 
sweeter in the whole world. Yet he kept 
himself in good control. All he did to indi- 
cate that he was pleased was to rip a piece 
of the band from his hat and kick a bug off 
the porch. 

i8i 


BOLIVAR BROWN 


We are very thankful to you, Bolivar,’' 
said Mrs. Lake. 

*'Well,” he said, hesitatingly, ''I’m glad 
yer glad.” Then he turned to go. 

"Wait a minute,” said the widow. " Katie 
must give you some of the candy she’s been 
making.” 

"Yes,” said Katie. "I’ll bring some out 
on a plate and we’ll eat it together.” Boli- 
var grinned in pure delight. Katie soon 
came out with the plate of candy. 

"Let’s go down in the grape arbor,” she 
suggested. "It’s cool down there.” 

Bolivar walked with her to the arbor, 
occasionally trying to step on an ant or a 
bug. She took a seat on a bench and asked 
him to sit beside her. He accepted the in- 
vitation, but took care that he was within 
reach of some soft earth in which to dig 
with his big toe. Katie offered him some 
candy and he chose a big piece. 

"It ain’t very good,” she said, apolo- 
getically. "I can make better.” 

"It tastes good to me,” he replied. 

182 


BOLIVAR BROWN 


^^What kind of candy do you like best?'* 
‘‘I like the kind I happen to have/’ 
Then both laughed. 

Katie and Bolivar sat in the arbor half 
an hoiu*, eating and talking. 

‘^Spealdn’ of candy,” said Bolivar, 
’minds me of Skeets onct. His mother 
give him a stick of striped candy fer takin’ 
a bath an’ he brung it down to the swim- 
min’ hole. First thing he knowed he 
dropped it in the river. I got it an’ et half 
of it. I give him the rest an’ he was eatin’ 
it when a fly got on it an’ stuck there. 
Skeets was tryin’ to get the candy et up 
’fore the other fellers asked him fer it an’ 
he et the fly.” 

^'He did?” came from the horrified 
Katie. 

”Yep. I says, *Look out, Skeets — ^you 
et a fly.’ He got mad. He said I oughta 
said, ‘Look out’ ’fore he et the fly.” 

‘ ‘ Poor boy ! That’s too bad ! ’ ’ 

Bolivar did not relish the idea of Katie’s 
S3mipathizing with Skeets, even though he 
13 183 


BOLIVAR BROWN 

wasn’t present. He dug his toe into the 
earth. 

‘‘Yes,” he said, “but just think of the 
poor fly!” 

Bolivar’s story about the fly did not 
affect the appetite of either of the children. 
By this time the candy was almost gone and 
the boy arose to go. 

‘ ‘ Guess I ’d better be gettin’ home, ’ ’ he said. 

“What’s your hurry?” asked Katie. 

“Gotta get home fer dinner. I’m hun- 
gry.” He meant it, too. 

“Will you come an’ see me again?” 
asked Katie. 

“You want me to?” 

“Of course I do. I think you’re nice.” 
And Katie busied herself trying to pull the 
last piece of candy from the plate. 

“Honest I do,” she added, without looking 
up. 

Bolivar was standing now. His big toe 
was digging vigorously. 

“Then I guess I’ll tell you somethin’,” 
he said. 


184 



HE SUMMONED ALL HIS COURAGE. 




BOLIVAR BROWN 


‘‘What is it?’’ 

He summoned all his courage. “I’m 
stuck on you,’’ he said. 

Having delivered himself of this im- 
portant message, Bolivar turned and started 
away at a fast walk. Katie called to him to 
stop. 

“Come back a minute,’’ she said. He 
did, but could not look her in the face. 

“What you want?’’ he asked. 

“I’m stuck on you, too.’’ 

“Honest?’’ 

“Honest.’’ 

Bolivar turned and ran. Through the 
yard he fairly flew and over the fence he 
went. He did not slacken his pace until 
he had reached his home. 

“Gee!’’ he muttered. “Her stuck on 
me! By golly! I’m a-goin’ to keep my face 
clean from now on.’’ 


XVI 


AT the supper table Friday evening 
l \ Mrs. Brown asked Bolivar if he’d like 
to attend a church entertainment at the 
Methodist parsonage. 

^‘They’ll play games and have ice cream 
and cake,” she said. ''If you want to 
go I’ll give you two tickets your father 
bought.” 

Bolivar decided to go. At his mother’s 
suggestion he went upstairs and put on his 
best clothes; also his shoes and stockings. 
When he returned she gave him the two 
tickets. 

"Take Skeets with you,” she suggested. 
"The party begins at eight o’clock.” 

Bolivar thanked his mother and found 
Skeets. Of course Skeets wanted to go 
and he was soon arrayed in his Simday 
clothes. 


i86 


BOLIVAR BROWN 


''We’re goin’ to have ice cream,” said 
Bolivar as Sheets tied his shoe strings. 

"We’ll have it if Scrawney, Bill, an’ them 
kids don’t swipe it,” replied Sheets. "Bol, 
mebbe to be sure of gettin’ some, me an’ 
you better stay away an’ head a swipin’ 
gang. They ’ll leave the ice cream on the 
back porch till eatin’ time comes.” 

" Naw! ” replied Bolivar. " Le’s go inside 
an’ see what’s goin’ on.” 

At eight o’clock the two boys appeared 
at the parsonage and gave their tickets to 
Mary Beggs, the preacher’s daughter, who 
ushered them to seats at one side of the 
parlor. They were the yoimgest of all 
present. 

For a while time dragged, but when the 
games were introduced Bolivar and Sheets 
participated and enjoyed them. After 
spin-the-plate and other such games had 
been played. Miss Beggs distributed paper 
and pencils and said an essay-writing con- 
test would be held. 

"We’ll take 'The Parrot’ as our subject,” 
187 


BOLIVAR BROWN 


she said, '‘and the writer of the best essay 
will be given an extra dish of ice cream/' 
Everybody wrote for five minutes, Boli- 
var and Sheets included. The essays were 
then collected and turned over to Uncle 
Ezra Fox to read. When he came to Boli- 
var's a smile spread over his face as he read 
it aloud as follows: 


‘‘The parrit are a fethered bird what sets in a cage an’ 
butts into yer business with cuss wirds an’ advice. He 
are genrully green an’ will peck yer finger. We have got 
a parrit what yells, ‘Who the devil are you?’ at people 
when he shouldn’t be askin’ such questions. The preacher 
don’t like our parrit, for one day when he come to dinner 
Polly began to holler, ‘Bald Head’ at him. Next he 
sings out, ‘Here, Bald Head; Here, Bald Head!’ like as 
if the preacher were a dog. When my mother put the 
parrit out it yelled, ‘Yer a fine wife, ain’t you?’ an’ 
made my father mad. My father says parrits an’ wimmen 
certainly talks too much. — Bol Brown.” 

For a full minute after the final word had 
been read there was dead silence. Then 
Uncle Ezra began to laugh and the merri- 
ment became contagious. The preacher 

i88 


BOLIVAR BROWN 


and Ann Eliza Chase did not laugh. Doctor 
Beggs left the room, but Miss Chase lit 
into Bolivar. 

''Bolivar Brown,** she said, "you ought to 
be ashamed for writing such an essay. If you 
was my boy I*d beat you black and blue.** 

"That essay just told what really hap- 
pened,** said Bolivar, doggedly. 

"Makes no difference! You had no 
business writin* such a thing to humble 
Doctor Beggs. 1*11 see that your father 
hears of it.** 

"I reckon he*ll hear about it soon 
enough,** said Uncle Ezra, still smiling. 
"It *11 be all over town *fore long. Boli- 
var*s essay was right pointed, but it was all 
in fun. The preacher ought to take it that 
away an* I reckon he will. Anyway, Bolivar 
never read it. I did that.** 

Miss Beggs came over and patted Bolivar 
on the head. 

"He didn*t mean to do an 3 rthing wrong,** 
she said. "Papa won*t care. I know it 
happened just as he said it did.** 

189 


BOLIVAR BROWN 


'‘How did you know?” asked Uncle 
Ezra. 

"Oh, somebody told me.” And the girl 
smiled at Ann Eliza Chase insinuatingly. 

At this point Doctor Beggs re-entered 
the room. "I think,” he said, fully com- 
posed, "that Bolivar Brown wins the extra 
dish of ice cream. Doesn’t he. Uncle Ezra? ’ ’ 

"I think so,” replied Uncle Ezra. 

Miss Beggs went to the kitchen to get 
the ice: cream, but returned empty handed 
and excited. 

"It’s gone,” she exclaimed. "I went 
out on the porch to get it, but it isn’t there. 
Somebody has taken it.” 

"Boys!” snapped Miss Chase. "I’ll bet 
it was Bolivar — ” She caught herself just 
in time. 

"No, not Bolivar!” said Uncle Ezra. 
"Here sits Bolivar right before our eyes.” 

"Well, I’ll bet if he’d ’a’ been outside he’d 
’a’ got it.” 

Uncle Ezra, smiling, was about to reply 
when Bolivar jiimped out of his chair. 


BOLIVAR BROWN 


an’ Skeets has got to go,” he said. 
And the two boys grabbed their hats and 
rushed out. 

. Which way do you s’pose they went?” 
asked Bolivar, once they were out of the 
house. 

'‘Mebbe to the old blacksmith shop,” 
suggested Skeets. 

They started on the run and reached the 
shop in two minutes. Skeets had guessed 
right. There they found Scrawney, Bill, 
Jimmy, and Inky. Bolivar and Skeets sat 
down and helped themselves. 

''What made you fellers swipe it?” 
asked Bolivar between mouthfuls. 

"We never had no tickets to get in,” re- 
plied Scrawney. 

"An’,” chimed in Bill, "they left it right 
out on the porch in plain sight from the 
alley.” 

"They hadn’t oughter left it out like 
that. I don’t see how you fellers can be 
blamed fer takin’ it,” said Bolivar. 

Scrawney and Inky volimteered to return 


BOLIVAR BROWN 


the empty can to the porch of the parsonage. 
As Bolivar and Sheets left the shop the 
former said: 

Sheets, me an’ you can’t be blamed fer 
this swipin’, can we?” 

'‘No,” replied Sheets. "Me an’ you are 
innercent as babies this time.” 

The sun was high in the shy Saturday 
morning when Bolivar started down the 
street in search of adventure. Near the 
old blachsmith shop he found Inhy, Sheets, 
Scrawney, Bill, and Jimmy sitting on the 
sidewalh. As Bolivar joined the gathering 
Doctor Beggs happened along and stopped. 

"Bolivar,” he said, "I’m sorry you didn’t 
get your ice cream last night. Here, tahe 
this dime and buy something to mahe up 
for the loss of the ice cream.” 

He held out a ten-cent piece, but Bolivar 
made no move to accept it. 

"No thanhs!” he said. "I can’t tahe it. 
You didn’t swipe the ice cream.” 

"Tahe it, Bolivar! Please do!” 

"No, thanhs!” 


192 


BOLIVAR BROWN 


Doctor Beggs was determined to carry his 
point. He dropped the coin in the grass and 
walked away. Before he had gone ten yards 
there was a rough-and-tumble scramble for 
the dime. All the boys were in it but 
Bolivar. Scrawney came out the victor. 

got it,” he yelled, joyfully. "‘Dm 
goin' to buy a ball with it.” 

''Gimme that dime!” demanded Bolivar. 
"It’s mine. I worked that money out of 
Doctor Beggs.” 

"All right,” said Scrawney, realizing the 
justice of Bolivar’s stand. And he handed 
it over. 

"Now, all of you f oiler me,” said Bolivar. 
"I’ll take you to Pickwick’s store an’ buy 
some candy.” 

They moved away and Inky took a mouth 
organ from his pocket. Bolivar had an idea 
on seeing it. 

"Inky, can you play 'Turkey in the 
Straw?’” he asked. 

"Sho!” 

"Well, I understand old man Pickwick 
193 


BOLIVAR BROWN 


used to fiddle for dances over north of here 
an’ 'Turkey in the Straw’ was his fav’rite 
tune. If you act right with that mouth 
organ we’ll get twice as much candy as we 
will if you don’t.” 

" Jes’ tell me what ter do.” 

"When we go in the store I’ll talk to Mr. 
Pickwick an’ you start up that tune.” 

"What’s the idee, Bol?” asked Scrawney. 

"Why, he’ll be so tickled to hear his 
fav’rite tune that he’ll give us more candy.” 

Scrawney scoffed at the idea, but Bolivar 
was determined to try it. In the store they 
found Mr. Pickwick and Peleg Lee. 

"Howdy, Bolivar!” said the storekeeper. 
"What ’ll you have to-day — ^half a bushel of 
tea?” And Hezekiah smiled at Peleg. 

"No,” replied the boy, "but how’s yer 
cat, Mr. Pickwick?” 

Hezekiah saw the point and laughed. 
He was good humored this morning. 

"Bested me, hod dog it!” he chuckled. 
"Peleg, blamed if this boy ’ain’t got me 
ragged.” 


194 


BOLIVAR BROWN 


‘^Reckon you better leave him be?*’ 
came from Peleg. 

Reckon so. Well, Bol, what do you 
want?” 

'‘Candy! Want a big dime’s worth.” 

“ Le’s see yer dime.” 

BoHvar handed it over. “That ain’t no 
big dime,” said Hezekiah, with another 
laugh. 

“Looks mighty big to me,” replied Boli- 
var. “I ’ain’t seen one fer so long, you 
know.” 

“Raggin’ you ag’in, ain’t he?” came from 
Peleg. 

‘ ‘ Looks like it . ” Then to Bolivar : ‘ ‘ What 
kind you want — ^mixed er gumdraps?” 

“Mixed!” 

It was at this point that Inky began 
“Turkey in the Straw.” He played it furi- 
ously. Hezekiah set the candy jar down 
and addressed Peleg. “That’s the best old 
time ever wrote,” he said. “It beats all this 
here high-toned music seven hundred miles 
from Sunday. Hod dog it!” 

195 


BOLIVAR BROWN 


certainly is foot ticklin'/' said Peleg. 

''Foot ticklin'? Well, I should say so. 
Why, when I sawed the fiddle people used 
to threaten to mob me if I didn't play that 
tune. Honest, Peleg, they ain't nothin' as 
good as it in any of the best music books." 

Inky was playing harder than ever. 
Hezekiah came around the end of th^ 
counter and began to pat his hands and 
stamp one foot on the fioor. 

"It's great!" he yelled. Then, just boil- 
ing over with enthusiasm, he began to exe- 
cute a reel step. The boys moved back to 
give him room and the storekeeper injected 
more energy into his dancing. Just as he 
was becoming red in the face the doorway 
was darkened and in came Ann Eliza Chase. 

The arrival of the old maid put an end to 
Hezekiah's dancing. Sheepishly he has- 
tened behind the counter and filled the 
candy sack to the top. Then he ventured 
to look at Miss Chase. Peleg had his hand 
over his mouth. 

"Yer a fine chirrch member, ain't you, 
196 


BOLIVAR BROWN 

Hezekiah Pickwick?*’ said the old maid, 
scomftilly. 

It confused Hezekiah. He recovered 
quickly, however, and replied: ^'Well, I 
reckon I pay my ’sessments prompt as any 
of ’em.” 

The boys were edging out of the store. 
As he reached the door Bolivar said: 

''Miss Chase, Mr. Pickwick couldn’t help 
it. He ain’t to blame. We knowed he 
couldn’t stand it to keep still while that 
tune was bein’ played, so we had Inky play 
it. We knowed if we got him feelin’ happy 
he’d give us more candy. Fergive him! ” 

"What? How’s that?” yelled the store- 
keeper. "You boys played a trick on me? 
Get out o’ here!” 

Hezekiah started for the door, but the 
boys had gone. Ann Eliza Chase went on 
her way hardly knowing whether to smile 
or frown. 


i 


XVII 


P romptly at ten o’clock on Tuesday 
morning Bolivar, Inky, Skeets, Scraw- 
ney, Jimmy, and Bill filed into the office of 
Uncle Ezra Fox and found him waiting for 
them. He greeted them with a “Howdy, 
boys!” and asked them to be seated xmtil 
he finished a letter he was writing. After 
a brief wait James Lake came in. Uncle 
Ezra then stopped writing and closed the 
door. 

“Boys,” the old man began, when all had 
drawn their chairs closer to his desk, “I 
reckon yer siuprised at bein’ invited to 
come here so mysterious, ain’t you?” 

“A little bit,” Bolivar acknowledged. 

“I thought so. Well, me an’ Mr. Lake 
here have got a scheme to make you all 
some money.” 

198 


BOLIVAR BROWN 


'^What you want to make us money for, 
Uncle Ezra?’’ asked Bolivar. ‘'You don't 
owe us nothin'." 

“Hush up, Bol ! " said the old man, with a 
smile. ‘ ‘ 'Ain't we got the right to make you 
money if we want to? This here is a free 
country. Now, me an' Mr. Lake has got 
this chance to do you kids some good an' 
we're a-goin' to do it whether you want us 
to er not." 

Here Uncle Ezra stopped to wipe the 
perspiration from his face. This feat ac- 
complished, he said to Lake, “Shall I go 
ahead er do you want to tell 'em?" 

“You explain it." 

“Well, boys," continued Uncle Ezra, 
“yer all members of the Paw Paw Minin' 
Company." 

The youngsters looked from one man's 
face to that of the other in wonder. Just 
what the annoimcement meant was not 
clear to them. They knew of no mines in 
the vicinity of Paw Paw Comer. 

“This here concerns all the cave boys," 
199 


14 


BOLIVAR BROWN 


the old man went on. ‘^They’s coal in that 
cave. Coal, you imderstand?"’ 

The boys did understand, but not very 
well. In those days little coal was burned 
in Missouri outside the cities and on the 
steam engines and steamboats. Nobody in 
Paw Paw Comer burned coal. Wood was 
too plentiful. 

^‘You say they’s coal in the cave?^' 
asked Bolivar. 

''That's what! Good coal, too." 

"Well, it ain't none of it ours. It's 
your'n," came from Sheets. 

"Wrong!" said Uncle Ezra. "It was 
mine, but now it belongs to the Paw Paw 
Minin' Company, the company that yer 
all interested in." 

"An we're goin' to get money out of it?" 
asked Sheets. 

"You bet you are!" 

"We had a dime the other day," Scraw- 
ney put in. "We bought candy with it." 

Lake smiled. "I've seen the time when 
a dime coimted for just as much to me," 


200 


YER ALL MEMBERS OF THE PAW PAW MININ* COMPANY,” SAID UNCLE EZRA 









BOLIVAR BROWN 

he said. *^Tell ’em some more, Uncle 
Ezra.” 

A dime won’t be no more to you than a 
grain of com is to a hungry horse,” said the 
old man. “Bolivar, how’d you like to have 
five hundred dollars?” 

“ Gee ! ” replied the boy. “I’d eat all the 
candy I could stand an’ buy me a jackknife.” 

Uncle Ezra and Lake laughed heartily. 
“You can do all o’ that an’ some more,” 
said the former. “Mr. Lake an’ me will 
fix that. Now, I want to ask you some 
questions. Which of you boys first started 
goin’ to the cave?” 

“Me an’ Bol,” replied Skeets. 

“ Yep ! ” said Scrawney . “Bol an’ Skeets 
organized the crowd. They s’lected the 
cave as our meetin’ place.” 

After two or three more questions. Uncle 
Ezra told the boys the entire plan. The 
company had been formed by Lake and 
himself and arrangements were under way 
to sell out to St. Joseph parties who would 
develop the coal discovery. The vein, he 


201 


BOLIVAR BROWN 


said, was three feet thick and was less than 
one hundred feet below the surface. All 
that was necessary for the boys to do was to 
sign their names to the organization’s 
papers. He was to act as president, and 
Lake as secretary and treasurer, until the 
property was disposed of. 

^^You boys unearthed that vein when 
you blasted,” said Uncle Ezra. ‘'Mr. 
Lake’s brother had a suspicion they was 
coal there and it was his idea to see what 
the blast would uncover.” 

Bolivar and Inky glanced at each other. 
In the mind of each was the picture of the 
banker strolling aroimd near the Anderson 
home. 

“Now,” said Uncle Ezra, “sign up!” 

He took some papers from his drawer and 
'one by one the boys scrawled their names 
on the lines pointed out by the old man. 
The names came in the following order: 
Bolivar Brown, Eli Anderson, 

Charles Wilson, William Hurst, 

Frank Hicks, James Biggar. 


202 


BOLIVAR BROWN 


The signing done, Uncle Ezra and Lake 
affixed their signatures at the bottom of the 
page. 

^‘Now,” said Lake, ‘^the company is 
formed. We’re all equal owners in the 
proposition.” 

‘‘I’ve got an appointment to meet one 
of the St. Joe men who want to buy us 
out,” said Uncle Ezra. “I’m goin’ to St. 
Joe to see him to-morrer. When I come 
back I’ll call another meetin.’ Have I got 
yer full permission to act in the matter?” 

Bolivar understood and replied in the 
affirmative for all the boys. The meeting 
was then declared adjourned, and every- 
body left the room but Uncle Ezra and 
Bolivar. The old man said he wanted a 
few words with the lad. Fifteen minutes 
after the meeting had been adjourned the 
whole town was talking about the Paw 
Paw Mining Company. The fact that coal 
had been discovered threatened to give the 
town a boom. 

“Say, Bolivar,” said Uncle Ezra, when 
203 


BOLIVAR BROWN 


Lake and the other boys had gone, 
thought mebbe you'd like to run up to St. 
Joe with me to-morrer. Would you?" 

The boy was delighted. He never had 
been to St. Joseph. “You bet I would," 
he replied. “Do you really mean it?" 

“O' course! Be at my house at seven- 
thirty sharp to-morrer momin'. We'll take 
the eight-o'clock train. Tell yer folks you'll 
be home to-morrer night an' not to worry 
'bout you." 

Greatly pleased, BoUvar timied to go. 
Before he reached the door an idea stopped 
him. “Uncle Ezra," he said, turning back, 
“you have been mighty good to us boys." 

“Be on hand to-morrer," said the old 
man. 

“Oh, I'll be there, but I got somethin' 
I'd like to suggest." 

“What is it?" 

“You know Tim Walker, the little feller 
the kids call Humpy. Him that's got the 
spine disease an’ can't get out of the house 
much?" 


204 


BOLIVAR BROWN 


^‘Course!” 

Bolivar twirled his hat on one finger and 
gazed at the floor. '‘Uncle Ezra,” he said, 
“le's put his name down, too. I’m sure 
he’d ’a’ b’en a member of the cave gang if 
he was well.” 

Uncle Ezra drew out the organization’s 
papers again. “Sign it there,” he said, 
indicating a line. 

Bolivar wrote “Tim Walker” as in- 
structed to. 

“Thanks!” he said. Then he fled from 
the room, slamming the door behind him. 

Uncle Ezra developed a suspicious moisr 
ture in his eyes. Dropping back in his 
chair, he murmured : 

“Bol Brown, yer a fine boy. You got a 
heart in you — a square heart. I’m fer you. 
I — I wisht you wus mine.” 

The old man’s arms went down on his 
desk. His head dropped on them and for 
fifteen minutes he dreamed of boys and a 
boy he had known in the far-away past. 


XVIII 


T he ride to St. Joseph the next day was 
brimming over with interest for Boli- 
var. Uncle Ezra spent much of the time in 
the smoking car and Bolivar was left alone 
to marvel at what he saw through the car 
window. It was dining the time that the 
old man was in the other car that a yoimg 
woman sat down beside the boy. 

'‘Good morning, Bolivar!” she said. 
"Why, howdy. Miss Brewster!” he re- 
plied. "Are you goin' to St. Joe, too?” 

"Yes. But next week I'm going much 
farther. I'm going clear to Georgia to visit 
my aimt for a year.” 

Bolivar had no idea how far Georgia was. 
"Huh!” he said. "Guess you'll have to 
travel three or four hoinrs, won't you?” 

She smiled faintly. "Much more than 
that,” she said. 


206 


BOLIVAR BROWN 


"‘Mr. Jim Lake told me he travelled all 
night on a train one time,’^ said the boy. 
‘'That must ’a* be'n fim.*' 

The mention of Lakeys name drove the 
faint smile from Millie Brewster’s face. 
She did not reply for a moment. Finally, 
however, she asked: “You know Mr. Lake, 
then?” 

“Sure! An’ he’s a fine feller. Him an’ 
Uncle Ezra are goin’ to make us kids rich 
out of the coal mine. Do you know him?” 

“Why, I — I used to,” stammered the 
yoimg woman. “That is, I knew him 
before — ” She could go no further. Her 
throat clogged with emotion and, placing 
her handkerchief to her eyes, she wept just 
a little. Bolivar looked at her, amazed. 
Though just a boy, he realized that there 
had been something between Miss Brewster 
and James Lake. For the moment the 
scenery was forgotten while he turned over 
in his mind everything Lake had ever said 
to him. He went back to the night he de- 
livered the note to Miss Brewster and the 
207 


BOLIVAR BROWN 


incident was now full of significance. Then 
he remembered the fight in the bam and 
realized who the “Millie’' mentioned by- 
John Lake was. He wondered why he 
hadn’t realized it at the time. 

The young woman dried her eyes and 
attempted to laugh off her show of emotion. 

“I — I have a cold, I guess,” she said. 

Bolivar was thinking of her interrupted 
sentence of a few moments before. Now 
he knew the girl was aware of the fact that 
Lake had been in the penitentiary; he was 
certain, also, that she was in love with the 
man. It looked to him as though the time 
was ripe to do his friend and benefactor a 
service. 

“Miss Millie,” he said, “you recollect 
the night I delivered you a note from Mr. 
Lake?” 

“Yes,” she said, softly. 

“That was the night he arrived in town. 
I got a hunch you know where he had come 
from. Am I right ? ’ ’ 

“Yes, Bolivar!” 


208 


BOLIVAR BROWN 


'^Well, I know all about that, but it’s 
been a little secret with me an’ Sheets an’ 
Inky. We wasn’t never goin’ to tell it, but 
now that it’s a secret with you, too, I’m 
goin’ to tell you some more an’ set Mr. 
Lake right.” 

The girl, again on the verge of tears, 
pulled herself together. 

”What can you tell me?” she asked, 
eagerly. 

BoUvar then related to her the adventure 
he and his two companions had had on the 
night of the fight in the barn. He told her 
all he had heard and wound the story up 
with an assertion that he would bet his life 
James Lake never commit ced a crime. 

”He’s one of the finest, squarest men I 
ever met,” said Bolivar. ''He did it for his 
brother. I heard his brother admit it.” 

Millie Brewster sat as one tinned to stone 
for a moment. Then she gave way to emo- 
tion again and, grasping Bolivar in her 
arms, kissed him squarely on his lips. The 
next instant she was gone — ^to the ladies’ 
209 


BOLIVAR BROWN 

room, and Uncle Ezra rettimed from the 
smoker. 

The train reached St. Joseph shortly 
after nine o'clock. Uncle Ezra and Bolivar 
left it at the Francis Street station and 
walked uptown. They took a stroll through 
the business district and at ten o'clock went 
to the office of the capitalist who was inter- 
ested in the coal proposition. He had ar- 
ranged to meet the old man at noon, but 
was disengaged at this time, so they got 
down to business immediately. 

It required but a short time for them to 
come to an understanding. It was arranged 
that the capitalist, Mr. Barnes, should send 
a man to Paw Paw Comer as soon as pos- 
sible to examine the coal land and report to 
him. 

think, Mr. Fox," said Mr. Barnes, 
you have a piece of property we want. 
I don't mind telling you I am after it for the 
railroad people. We have needed coal land 
up that way for a long time. I can see 
quite a little sum there for you if the report 
210 


BOLIVAR BROWN 

is favorable — possibly ten thousand dol- 
lars.” 

After the conference Uncle Ezra told 
Bolivar he wanted to visit a cousin who 
lived in St. Joseph. Together the old man 
and the boy went to the home of the for-^ 
mer's relative, a woman named Taylor. 
Mrs. Taylor met them at the door. 

The Taylors were well-to-do. They lived 
in a big house on North Sixth Street. 
There was a young woman in the family 
and she took on herself the entertainment 
of Bolivar, while Uncle Ezra and her mother 
discussed relations in the sitting room. 
Miss Taylor escorted Bolivar to the parlor. 

‘'So this is little Mr. Brown IVe heard 
Uncle Ezra speak of?” she asked, with a 
smile. 

Bolivar admitted it was. 

“Uncle Ezra — ^we all call him that — says 
you're about the smartest boy in Paw Paw 
Comer.” 

“He's just stuffin' you,” replied the boy 
as he twirled his hat. 


2II 


BOLIVAR BROWN 


'^Oh, I guess not. Uncle Ezra never 
tries to fool me. I must say I am delighted 
to meet you. Uncle Ezra often tells us of 
the funny pranks you and your boy friends 
play.” 

The line of conversation was embarrassing 
to Bolivar. He looked about the room for 
an excuse to switch it and his eye lit on a 
picture over the piano. 

'‘Nice picture/' he said. 

“Yes/' replied Miss Taylor. “It's Uncle 
Ezra's mother. You Paw Paw boys must 
be very cute." 

“The people of the town don't think us 
kids are very funny," he said. At this 
point he saw another picture. “What's that 
man doin' in that paintin'?" he asked. 

“He is delivering a sermon — ^the Sermon 
on the Mount. You know all about that, I 
presiune." 

Bolivar was stuck, but he couldn't admit 
it. “I think I read about it in Sunday 
school," he said. 

“Isn't that fine!" came from the girl. 


212 


BOLIVAR BROWN 

Now, can you tell me what the sermon was 
about?’' 

Bolivar realized he had put his foot in it. 
He was wondering how to get out of it 
when, on glancing through the window, he 
saw two dogs threatening each other with 
violence. 

''Golly!” he said, stepping to the window. 
"There’s two dogs about to scrap.” 

The young woman came to the window. 
"Oh, I hope they don’t,” she said. 

Just then the fight began and Bolivar 
hurried outdoors. The fight did not last 
long, but it was long enough to make Miss 
Taylor forget all about the sermon. When 
they returned to the house Uncle Ezra was 
in the parlor. Bolivar and he remained at 
the Taylor home for dinner and left at two 
o’clock. 

The old man and the boy spent the after- 
noon at a two-ring circus near the edge of 
the town. At the conclusion of the per- 
formance Uncle Ezra sought the manager 
and asked if he intended to show at Paw 


213 


BOLIVAR BROWN 

Paw Comer. The manager said the show 
wotild be there in two weeks. 

*^YouVe got a good performance/* said 
Uncle Ezra. Gimme ten tickets good for 
Paw Paw.** 

The tickets were handed over and paid 
for. Uncle Ezra gave them to Bolivar. 

There you are, Bol,** he said. ‘^Pass 
’em *round among yer friends, givin’ Tim 
Walker one. Somebody *11 help him get 
there.** 

Bolivar thanked Uncle Ezra. The old 
man and the boy then went to the station 
and boarded a train for home. 


XIX 


T he following Monday a St. Joseph 
man came to Paw Paw Comer and 
called on Uncle Ezra. He was the expert 
representing Mr. Barnes. He was favorably 
impressed with the coal land and took some 
samples of the product to St. Joseph with 
him that evening. Before leaving he told 
Uncle Ezra two weeks must pass before a 
final decision on the purchase of the ground 
could be made. The next morning Uncle 
Ezra had all the boys in his office again to 
tell them about the expert’s report. Again 
he asked Bolivar to remain after the others 
had gone. 

''Say, Bol,” said the old man, "I think I 
once told you I had a son, didn’t I?” 

■ Bolivar nodded. "What ever become of 
him? ’’ he asked. 

"My boy,’’ the old man continued in a 
215 


15 


BOLIVAR BROWN 


low tone, '‘I never knowed. When he was 
about four he was stole from me. Just who 
stole him I couldn’t never find out. I 
always thought it was some show people 
who had a little circus at otur town, but I 
couldn’t find the boy, although I follered 
that show fer days. The little feller was 
the pride of my heart an’ his mother jest 
worshiped him. She died six months after 
he was stole. The kidnappin’ helped hurry 
her off.” 

“What wus his name?” asked Bolivar. 

“His full name was William Henry Fox. 
I know if he’d been left to me he’d ’a’ be’n 
jest sech a boy as you are. Want to see 
his picture?” 

Uncle Ezra drew from his coat pocket a 
little, old, worn photograph. It was dim, 
yet the face of a golden-haired boy could 
be seen in it. 

“That’s Billy,” he said, softly. “That’s 
my little boy. God only knows where he 
is now. If I knowed I’d spend every last 
cent I got to try an’ get him back. 

216 


BOLIVAR BROWN 


/^Somehow er ruther I b’lieve he’s alive 
an’ I have a feelin’ that some day he’ll come 
back an’ see me ’fore I go. He’d be a man 
now. O’ coiirse, he wus too young to 
’member much. I’m certain he’d know his 
name, though, fer I taught him to say 
'Billy Fox’ every time he wus asked what 
it wus. I wus pretty nigh crazy, Bol, when 
they stole my little boy away from me.” 

Bolivar looked at the picture and handed 
it back to the old man. 

"He certainly was a nice-lookin’ little 
feller,” he said. "I bet you’d be mighty 
glad to get him back, even though he was a 
man. But, Uncle Ezra, you wouldn’t be 
no gladder, I bet, than he would be to get 
you back.” 

"I don’t know nothin’ ’bout how glad 
he’d be to see me,” said the old man. "I 
only know I’d fearful well like to see him. 
Maybe he’s got a little feller now ’bout the 
age he was when he wus stole. Bolivar, 
old Uncle Ezra is lonesome.” 

"Well, Uncle Ezra,” said the boy, "if I 

217 


BOLIVAR BROWN 


ever get a chance to find out an3rthing 'bout 
yer son, you bet I'll do it." 

“I know you will, Bol," the old man re- 
plied, with a sad smile. Bolivar left the 
office. 

A week went by and nothing of great im- 
portance transpired in the lives of the cave 
boys. One day, however, half a dozen men 
came to town and pasted show bills on 
fences, barns, and other buildings. The 
bills announced the coming of the tent show 
Bolivar and Uncle Ezra had seen in St. 
Joseph. When Bolivar saw the bills going 
up he found the boys and distributed the 
tickets. Nine he gave away, one going to 
Tim Walker, whom Skeets and Scrawney 
agreed to push to the scene in a wheeled 
chair. All the recipients of tickets were 
told to thank Uncle Ezra and they did. 

The day before the circus was due to 
arrive Bolivar told his pals he would not 
be able to attend the show with them. 

'‘Why not?" demanded Skeets. 

“Never mind! I'll be there, but I can't 

218 


BOLIVAR BROWN 


go with you fellers. If you see me there 
don't you dare to guy me." 

"He's probably goin' to take his mother," 
said Scrawney. 

That evening Bolivar went home through 
the street on which was the Lake residence. 
Mrs. Lake and Katie were seated on the 
front porch. 

"Hello, Bolivar!" called Katie. 

"Won't you come in?" asked the widow. 
The boy accepted and approached the 
porch, hat in hand. 

"Say, Katie," he began, "s'posin'l" 

"S'posin' what?" , 

"S'posin I wus dressed up in my Sunday 
clothes an' I had two tickets to the circus. 
Would you go with me?" 

Katie was delighted. "Oh, mamma," 
she said, "won't you let me go to the circus 
with Bolivar? He'll take care of me." 

The widow smiled. Though John Lake 
had been dead but a few weeks, she saw no 
reason why the little girl should miss the 
circus. 


219 


BOLIVAR BROWN 


“Yes, Katie,’' she replied. “If Bolivar 
will take good care of you, it will be all 
right.” 

“Oh, I’ll take care of her fine,” replied 
the boy, highly delighted. 

“It’s nice of you to ask her,” the widow 
continued. “Katie has you alone to thank 
for the pleasure in store for her. No one 
here could have taken her.” 

Bolivar cast a smile at Katie and she 
smiled at him. The boy started away. 

“I’ll come at one o’clock,” he said. 

With that he started for home on the run, 
vaulting the fence with the grace of a deer. 

BoHvar had been saving his money since 
his trip to St. Joseph to have enough to 
take Katie to the circus. His father had 
given him a quarter and he had earned 
another by cutting the grass in the front 
yard of his home. Of the fifty cents, he 
expected to spend half for Katie’s ticket 
and the rest for peanuts and lemonade. 
He would go in on the ticket he had with- 
held from the ten Uncle Ezra bought. 


220 


BOLIVAR BROWN 


After he had seen the circus wagons un- 
loaded and had viewed the parade Bolivar 
went home and donned his Sunday clothes. 
Eating almost no dinner at all, he hurried 
to the Lake residence. In his pocket 
jingled his two quarters. 

Katie met him at the door, dressed in a 
fresh white starched gown. In her hair 
was a red ribbon. Bolivar never had seen 
her looking so sweet. They reached the 
tent at one-thirty, running the gantlet 
of the gazes of the other boys, including 
Tim Walker, whom Skeets and Scrawney 
had in their charge. Approaching the 
ticket wagon, Bolivar made a painful dis- 
covery. He had lost one quarter. 

The boy was greatly disturbed. Of 
course, he could buy Katie's ticket; he'd 
have nothing to spend. He didn't like to 
ask the other boys for a loan, as he knew 
they needed what little money they had. 
His position was indeed embarrassing. 

However, Bolivar was a youth of action 
and he did not hesitate long. 


221 


BOLIVAR BROWN 


'‘Katie,” he said, "will you ^xcuse me a 
minute? I gotta go 'round behind the tent 
an' see 'bout somethin'. Sheets will stay 
with you while I'm gone. Won't you, 
Sheets?'' 

Sheets announced he would be glad to 
remain with Katie. He realized something 
was worrying Bolivar, but he did not in- 
quire about it at that time. Katie ashed 
no questions. Her faith in Bolivar was 
admirable. The little girl tooh her stand 
by Sheets and Bolivar disappeared. He 
was going to tahe a big chance. 

On the other side of the tent Bolivar 
found a man with a club watching to heep 
boys from slipping under the canvas. 
The youngster had his scheme all hatched 
and he went straight to the watchman. 

"Is this John?” he ashed. 

"John? No!” replied the man, gruffly. 
"What do you want, hid? My name's 
Tom.” 

Bolivar moved as though to leave. "I 
guess yer not the man,” he said. "I 


222 


BOLIVAR BROWN 

thought he said, ^ John, the man behind the 
tent/^’ 

^*Did you just come from the main 
entrance? ’’ 

^^Yes, sir!’’ 

^^Well, why don’t you keep your ears 
open? The boss wants me, I reckon. He 
said ‘Tom,’ didn’t he?” 

“Mebbe, but I didn’t hear him say 
‘Tom.’” 

The man gnmted something about “care- 
less kids” and started for the front of the 
tent. The minute he was out of sight 
Bolivar ducked under the canvas. 

“I never told him a lie,” he said to him- 
self. “That is, I never ’xactly told him 
one.” 

Straight to the entrance Bolivar went. 
He procured a pass-out ticket and foimd 
Katie just where he had left her. He had 
been gone but two minutes. 

“Come on, Katie,” he said. The two 
went in, using the pass-out check and the 
ticket Uncle Ezra had given Bolivar. In- 

223 


BOLIVAR BROWN 


side the tent the boy came face to face with 
the watchman. Bolivar held his breath. 
He expected trouble. 

“Hey, Kid!” said the man. “You was 
right. The boss didn’t want me.” 

“I never thought he did,” replied Bolivar, 
as he and Katie hurried on. 

The boy and girl found seats where they 
could watch ever3rthing that transpired in 
the two rings. It was a rare treat for them. 
The trapeze performers, the tumblers, the 
riders, and all pleased them greatly. Bolivar 
explained the sights to Katie and bought 
peanuts and lemonade for her. He was 
having the best time of his life. Katie was 
all smiles and excitement. 


XX 


J UST before the closing act the circus 
band stopped playing and a ringmaster 
led a bay pony into view. Climbing on to a 
table, the man said: 

''Ladies and gentlemen, you see before 
you Jack, the champion bucking pony of the 
Middle West. He makes it a business not 
to permit people to remain on his back. 
To any boy who will stay on him three 
minutes the management will give a five- 
dollar bill. Come on, boys!*' 

For a moment nobody stirred. Then a 
boy stepped forward. It was Scrawney. 
Bolivar and Katie recognized him at once. 

"So you wish to try to ride Jack?" 
asked the ringmaster. 

Scrawney admitted he had the desire. 
He was assisted to the back of the pony, 
225 


BOLIVAR BROWN 


and soon the little animal was bucking 
wildly. Scrawney held on gamely for half 
a dozen bucks and then went off, over 
Jack’s head, landing unhurt in the sawdust. 
The spectators laughed and the ringmaster 
called for another volunteer. He soon ap- 
peared in the person of Skeets. Bolivar 
had hoped Scrawney would win the money. 
Now he transferred the hope to Skeets. 

''Stick to him, Skeets!” he yelled. 

Skeets heard him and grinned, but after 
half a minute of energetic work Jack dis- 
lodged the boy. The audience roared, but 
Skeets didn’t care. Again the man called 
for a rider. 

"Where is that boy who yelled for this 
last one to stick on?” he asked. 

"He means you, Bolivar?” said Katie. 
Bolivar’s face grew red. 

"Well,” he said, "I can ride that pony.” 

"Go try it,” suggested the little girl. 
The boy hesitated no more. Katie had 
told him to go, and that was enough. He 
bounded out of his seat. 

226 


BOLIVAR BROWN 


'^Here I am!’^ he yelled. 

^‘Good!’’ replied the ringmaster. '‘Get 
on the pony’s back.” 

Bolivar had noticed that the pony’s front 
legs seldom left the ground when he bucked. 
He argued to himself that, if he sat squarely 
over Jack’s shoulders, he would be better 
able to stick on. He was assisted to the 
little steed’s back and the bucking began 
immediately. 

Bolivar had worked out the winning 
method. He sat right over Jack’s shoulders 
and dug his fingers into the pony’s mane. 
Jack bucked furiously for half a minute and 
then began to tire. The audience went 
wild. Above the roar Bolivar could hear 
his pals urging him to win. At the expira- 
tion of a minute Jack’s energy began to 
wane, and at the end of two minutes he 
was completely tired out. Bolivar remained 
on his back until the audience began to yell 
"three minutes,” and then slipped to the 
ground. 

"Do I win?” he asked. 


227 


BOLIVAR BROWN 


^^You do,” replied" the ringmaster. 

You're a gritty kid.” The man mounted 
the table again. 

'^Ladies and gentlemen,” he said, '‘this 
young man has ridden Jack to a standstill. 
He has done something no other boy has 
been able to accomplish this season. He 
wins the five dollars.” 

The crowd cheered. The ringmaster 
drew from his pocket a notebook, from 
which he tore a sheet. On this he wrote 
something with a pencil. 

"Give this paper to the show's manager 
in the ticket wagon,” he said to Bolivar, 
as he handed him the slip of paper. "His 
name is Fox — William Fox. He'll pay you 
the five.” 

Bolivar was startled by the name. ' ' Say, ' ' 
he asked, "do they call him Billy Fox?” 

The ringmaster nodded. "Almost every- 
body does,” he said. 

Bolivar did not seek the manager of the 
show at once. He took Katie home first. 
She thanked him profusely for the after- 
228 


BOLIVAR BROWN 

noon's fun and invited him to come and see 
her soon. Bolivar said he would, and then 
they parted. For once the boy was eager 
to leave the little girl. He wanted to see 
Uncle Ezra Fox. 

It was about five o'clock. Bolivar found 
Uncle Ezra in his office. 

‘'Hello, Bol!" the old man said. “You 
ought to be at the circus, oughtn't you?" 

“I been. I took Katie along." 

“Gettin' to be quite a ladies' man, ain't 
you?" 

Bolivar grinned. “I got somethin' else I 
want to talk to you 'bout," he said. 

“Sit down. What is it?" 

“Uncle Ezra," said Bolivar, taking a seat 
on the edge of a chair, “you recollect I said 
if ever I got a chance to help you find Billy 
Fox, I'd do it?" 

The old man's face grew solemn. “I 
do, Bolivar, an' I know you meant it." 

“Uncle Ezra, I ain't sure, but I got a 
hunch I've found Billy." 

The old man's eyes grew big and he 
229 


BOLIVAR BROWN 


sprang from his chair. ^'What’s that?'' he 
almost shouted. '‘You think you've found 
Billy Fox? Aw, Bol, don't joke me on that 
subject. It's too near my old heart." 

“I ain't jokin' you, Uncle Ezra. You 
said you thought Billy Fox was stole by 
circus people, didn't you?" 

“Yes," replied the old man, eagerly. 

“Well, they's a Billy Fox runnin' the 
show that's in town to-day. He's the feller 
that sold you the tickets in St. Joe. Mebbe 
he's yer Billy, Uncle Ezra." 

The old man put his pipe on his desk and 
reached for his hat. 

“Show him to me, Bolivar," he said. 
“ Show me this Billy Fox again. If the Lord 
lets me find my boy He'll be mighty kind. 
Come on, quick, Bolivar. Show him to 
me." 

They hurried to the circus grounds. On 
the way Bolivar told all about riding the 
pony and winning the five dollars. He 
showed Uncle Ezra the paper. 

“We'll hunt up Fox an' cash the order 
230 


BOLIVAR BROWN 


first,” said the old man. ^^That ’ll give me 
a good look at him.” 

They found the manager in his little 
private tent. He asked them in. 

''So you’re the lad who rode the pony?” 
he said, pleasantly, to Bolivar, as he handed 
him a five-dollar bill. ''You’re a plucky 
boy. What will you do with this money — 
give it to your father?” 

"I’ll give it to him to keep fer me. If he 
needs it he can spend it.” 

"That’s right, my boy! I like to see 
yotmg fellows treat their fathers with con- 
sideration. I’d like to have a father to 
treat that way.” 

"’Ain’t you got none?” asked Uncle 
Ezra, gazing straight into the manager’s 
eyes. 

"Not as I know of. I’ve been in this 
business ever since I can remember. Seems 
to me the canvasmen used to tell me I 
never had a father. I believe my parents 
were trapeze people and that both were 
killed in faUs.” 


16 


231 


BOLIVAR BROWN 


Uncle Ezra, trembling with eagerness, 
arose from the box on which he had been 
sitting and stepped nearer the manager. 

“Yer name is Fox,'' he said. ''You've 
been called Billy Fox ever since you can 
remember, 'ain't you?" 

"Yes." 

" Lemme see yer right forearm! " 

The manager was puzzled. Then it 
dawned on him that the old man was trying 
to identify him. He unbuttoned his cuff 
and tiurned back his sleeve. There on his 
arm was a small scar. Uncle Ezra grasped 
the manager's hand. 

"Billy Fox," he said, softly. "Billy Fox, 
don't you recollect how I poked you in that 
arm with the pitchfork when I wus beddin' 
the horse? Billy, don't you recollect mother? 
Mamalie you used to call her, Billy!" 

The old man sank on to the box and cov- 
ered his face with his hands. The manager 
was speechless, but only for a moment. 

"Mamalie?" he said. "I do! I do! 
Mamalie was my mother. I had forgotten, 
232 



“lemme see yer right forearm!” 


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BOLIVAR BROWN 


but — ’’ Here he recovered himself. ‘^But 
who are you?’’ 

''Uncle Ezry Fox, yer daddy!” came from 
the old man. ''Your daddy, the one you 
’ain’t seen fer thirty years or more. The 
daddy the circus people stole you from. 
Oh, if Mamalie could only be here!” 

Again the old man covered his face with 
his hands, and this time he wept softly. 
The manager sat down beside him. His 
strong right arm went around Uncle Ezra’s 
shoulders. 

"Daddy,” he said. "It seems strange to 
call anybody that. But, daddy, I know 
you’re mine and I’m yours.” 

At hearing himself called daddy Uncle 
Ezra’s arm stole about the younger man’s 
back and he patted him on the shoulder. 

" Mamalie’s gone, Billy,” he said. " Mam- 
alie called for you when she wus goin’, 
though. She never fergot you fer one sec- 
ond. 'If you ever find Billy Fox,’ she says, 
'tell him Mamalie wanted to see her little 
boy. Say she asked God every night to 
233 


BOLIVAR BROWN 


care for him. ^Tell him Mamalie will al- 
ways watch over him from above.’ ” 

Tears were in the eyes of both men. 
Bolivar slipped out of the tent unnoticed 
and sat down on a wagon tongue thirty 
feet away, to wait for Uncle Ezra. A few 
minutes later the flap of the tent was thrown 
aside and Billy Fox appeared. 

'‘Come in, my boy!” he called. “We 
want to see you.” 

Bolivar re-entered the tent. “Bol,” said 
Uncle Ezra, “I want you to meet my son, 
Billy Fox. The good Lord an’ Bolivar 
Brown have steered us together.” With 
that the old man turned to the manager. 

“Billy,” he said, “this is one of the finest, 
smartest boys in the world. Bolivar Brown’s 
his name. He’s my friend an’ I want you 
two to be friends.” 

Bolivar and the showman shook hands. 
“Now,” said Uncle Ezra, “I want you two 
to come to my house for supper. Billy, I’ll 
show you yer old baby clothes.” 

Bolivar decHned. “I better leave you 
234 


BOLIVAR BROWN 


two alone to-night,’* he said. come up 
some other time, Uncle Ezra. ’Sides, I got 
a little work to do at home, bringin’ in 
kindlin’ wood an’ the like.” 

''All right!” said the happy old man. 
"Come ’round to the office to-morrer 
momin’. I want to see you. Good-by fer 
to-night!” 

"Good-by!” 

"Hold on,” said Billy Fox, taking a 
ticket from his pocket and writing on it. 
"Take this along an’ use it to-night.” 

Bolivar looked at the ticket. On it was 
written: 

Good for Bolivar Brown and five friends to any part 
of the show at any time. Billy Fox. 


XXI 


I T wasn’t long until everybody within a 
radius of twenty-five miles of the Square 
knew that Uncle Ezra had found his long- 
lost son. Uncle Ezra, himself, told it first, 
giving Bolivar credit for having brought 
them together. The St. Joseph papers 
printed accounts of the reunion and praised 
Bolivar without stint. 

*'1 didn’t do much,” Bolivar explained to 
questioners. just heard the man’s name 
was Billy Fox an’ told Uncle Ezra. He did 
the rest.” 

Billy Fox sent his show on to the next 
stop without him. That night he and Uncle 
Ezra spent several hours talking of the long 
ago. Before they retired Uncle Ezra prom- 
ised to spend the following week traveling 
with the circus in order to be near Billy. 
Billy promised that at the end of the sirni- 
236 


BOLIVAR BROWN 


mer season he would return to Paw Paw 
Comer and spend a month with his father. 
He said he had a wife, but no children. His 
wife lived in a town in Illinois. 

“Billy,’’ said Uncle Ezra at the breakfast 
table next morning, “I’m goin’ to have a 
little meetin’ of boys in my office this 
momin’ an’ I’d like to have you tend it. 
I want to show you some real youngsters.” 

Billy said he’d be present. After breakfast 
the two walked downtown and ran into Boli- 
var near Pickwick’s store. Uncle Ezra asked 
him to have the boys at his office at ten o’clock. 

' ' I got somethin’ to tell you ’bout our mine 
proposition,” said the old man. Bolivar 
promised the boys would be there, and 
started out to notify them. Uncle Ezra 
and Billy went into the store and spent half 
an hour talking with the old man’s cronies. 
When they left Peleg Lee called Billy back. 

“You stay outside a minute, Ezry,” he 
said. “We want to talk to Billy.” 

Uncle Ezra complied with the request 
and Billy turned back into the store. 

237 


BOLIVAR BROWN 


'‘Go on, Peleg!*' Tell Mr. Fox what you 
got to say,'' said Hezekiah. 

“Naw! You tell him!" 

“Well, Mr. Fox," Hezekiah began, “we're 
all agreed to what I'm 'bout to say. We're 
all mighty glad Uncle Ezry has fotmd his 
son, but we're hopin' we won't be the losers 
by it." 

“Losers — how?" asked Billy. 

“Well, we sort o' feared you'd take Ezry 
away from Paw Paw an’ we jest kain't 
'ford to let him go. He's been one of us so 
long that, well, we're all sort o' dost 
friends, you see. If you take him away 
you'll come nigh breakin’ several old fool 
hearts. You won't take him, will you?" 

Billy Fox was visibly affected by Heze- 
kiah's Uttle speech. 

“As long as my old dad has friends of 
this kind in Paw Paw I'll never take him 
away for good," he said. “I'm going to 
take him on a week's visit to-day, but — " 

“You'll send him back?" 

“Yes, sir. He’ll be back in a week. I 

238 


BOLIVAR BROWN 


promise that this town shall be his home as 
long as he wants it to be/' 

'‘Billy Fox, yer a trump," said Hezekiah. 
"Blamed if I don’t set ’em up to the 
seegars.’’ 

He brought out a box of smokes and 
passed them around. Uncle Ezra was 
called in and Billy and he took cigars. 

"Uncle Ezry,’’ said Hezekiah, "you’ve 
got a good son. God bless him! ’’ 

The old man and Billy went over to the 
bank and called on James Lake. After a 
short chat all three went to Uncle Ezra’s 
office and at ten o’clock met the boys. 
Tim Walker was among them, seated in his 
wheeled chair. 

"Boys,’’ began Uncle Ezra, "they ain’t 
no use delayin’ matters. Mr. Lake an’ me 
have received letters from the capitalist in 
St. Joe an’ he wants to buy us out at once. 
They offer us six thousand dollars fer our 
rights. Wffiat do you say? Shall we take it?’’ 

The boys twirled their hats and waited for 
Bolivar to speak. 


239 


BOLIVAR BROWN 


*^What do you think, Bol?*’ asked James 
Lake. 

'‘I think if Mr. Barnes is treating us 
honest, we better sell.'' 

'‘Exactly what I think," said Mr. Lake. 

“All right, then," said Uncle Ezra. “ Mr. 
Barnes has bought somethin'. Mr. Lake's 
bank will have eight hundred dollars to the 
credit of each of you next week." 

Bolivar had been doing some mental 
calculating. “Hold on. Uncle Ezra!" he 
said. “You an' Mr. Lake ain't gettin' 
nothin' out of this." 

“Me an' Mr. Lake don't want nothin' 
an' won't take nothin'," replied the old 
man. “You boys found the vein an' you 
get all the money exceptin' a little fer 
expenses." 

“Naw!" came from Skeets. 

“We insist!" said James Lake. 

“Well, whatever we get. Uncle Ezra," 
said Bolivar, “we'll all have you an' Mr. 
Lake to thank fer it, an' we'll be mighty 
thankful." 


240 


BOLIVAR BROWN 


* ‘ Hush ! * ' said the old man. * * Next week 
we’ll talk ’bout what you’d better do with 
your money.” 

know what I’ll do with mine,” said 
Tim Walker. “I’ll go to Chicago and be 
treated. Oh, Uncle Ezry, I just can’t 
thank you an’ Mr. Lake enough, an’ 
Bohvar, too, an’ — ” 

“Hold on there, Tim!” said Bolivar. 
“You’ll fall out o’ that chair. Go ahead an’ 
get yer treatment, an’ when you come home 
we’ll let you play first base on the ball 
team.” 

“Will you?” asked the cripple, his eyes 
sparkling with anticipation. 

“You bet!” 

Half an hour after the boys had left the 
office Uncle Ezra and Billy Fox were stand- 
ing beside a grassy mound in the town’s 
little cemetery. 

“There’s the place, Billy,” said the old 
man, softly. “Mamalie’s sleepin’ below, 
prob’ly dreamin’ of Billy Fox.” 

Billy Fox gazed downward in silence. 

241 


BOLIVAR BROWN 


As the two men strolled back down the 
main street, Uncle Ezra noticed a man and 
a woman walking along under the trees in 
earnest conversation. 

''Why, how do you do. Miss Millie!’’ 
said the old man. "I’ll see you next week, 
Mr. Lake.” 

James Lake smiled a smile of genuine 
happiness, while Millie Brewster bowed her 
head and touched her handkerchief to her 
eyes. 

" By the way,” asked Billy Fox, a moment 
later, "where’s Bolivar? We ought to tell 
him good-by.” 

"There the rascal is,” replied Uncle 
Ezra, pointing toward the Lake home. 
Billy Fox looked and saw Bolivar Brown, 
seated in the hammock, eating candy. By 
his side was Katie Lake. 

"Huh!” chuckled Uncle Ezra. "Looks 
to me like I ’ain’t got any comer on happi- 
ness to-day. Come on, Billy — ^le’s ketch 
our train.” 


THE END 









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